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Whistleblower 9: CMS school bus driver caught on video nodding off at wheel

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Parents are calling for action after a school bus driver was caught on camera who appears to be nodding off behind the wheel with students on board.

Parents sent Whistleblower 9 a video of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools bus driver, after a student shot it with his cellphone.

Some parents said they contacted CMS weeks ago about the situation but nothing was done.

Each day at 4:15 p.m., bus 1304 picks up children at Randolph Middle School and drives them to Lake Wylie Elementary, which is the bus pickup and drop-off spot for students in that area who attend the magnet school.

One student shot a cellphone video of bus driver Diesha Clay appearing to nod off while driving them home.
The video shows her eyes open and close, her head drifting forward and then back up.

The video was shown to parents picking up their children and Suzette Grijalva had no idea.

"Nervous, I'm shaking now," Grijalva said. "Very nervous."

Luis Aguilar was shocked.

"Whoa, that's not good," Aguilar said. "And that's my daughter's bus. No way."

Tiffany Gordon said she did know and had previously called CMS when her son told her it was happening.

"When he told me the first time she would fall asleep and drift out of the lane I though it was a joke but when we saw the video it wasn't good at all," she said.

She said no one from CMS ever called her back.

"She needs to be removed as a bus driver because it is unsafe," Gordon said.

After Whistleblower 9 started investigating, we sent the video to CMS leaders and the district is now taking action.

A spokesperson said, "We acknowledge that there was some delay in this situation. The bus driver and additional employees who were involved in this situation have been suspended."

While CMS won't tell Whistleblower 9 who else was suspended and why, they said the investigation is ongoing.
District leaders said Clay's future as a bus driver is undecided at this point.

They are still reviewing information.

Phone number for parents concerned about their bus driver, or who have information in the ongoing investigation of driver Diesha Clay on bus 1304, call 980-343-6715.

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