Flu sidelining school bus drivers in Lancaster County

LANCASTER COUNTY, S.C. — The vicious flu virus is taking its toll on bus drivers in Lancaster County.

The flu is blamed for students getting home late from school.

The school district has 150 routes to cover, but the flu is keeping bus drivers home.

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School district officials say that doesn't include the 10 spots they have been struggling to fill.

"This was a yesterday problem and today problem,” said David Knight with the Lancaster County schools. “We're kind of short on drivers anyway and then we've had about 10 out today."

Beuford and Indian Land communities were hit the hardest, officials told Channel 9.

Staff members licensed to drive buses were pulled from their duties to fill in Wednesday and drive double routes because officials said that getting substitute drivers isn't easy.

“It takes about 20 days to train them, plus you have to do the tests and all kind of background checks. So you just can't go and pull somebody in,” Knight said.

Lancaster County isn't the first district in the Carolinas to deal with the flu causing a shortage in bus drivers.

Earlier this month, 25 school bus drivers in Guilford County called out sick on the same day.

"That is crazy,” said Nicole Barrino, who is concerned about the flu. “I feel like something needs to be done."

The flu season has been so bad that drivers have been asked to wipe down each seat at the end of their shift to make sure that no virus is spread.

"I don't know what we'll do if it continues,” Knight said.

Channel 9 asked the district if this continues would it consider asking surrounding counties for help, and a spokesperson said officials are open to any ideas to make sure students are picked up and dropped off on time.

South Carolina officials reported another 22 flu deaths in the state, bringing the total number of deaths to 128.

In North Carolina, 140 people have died from the flu.

Cox Media Group