Suzanne Stoms, 48, is charged criminally with endangering the welfare of a child. She was also charged with the following traffic summonses: Drunk Driving, Commercial Driver’s License D.U.I., D.U.I. with Minor Passengers and Reckless Driving.
Police say Stoms’ boyfriend tipped them off that she could be transporting school children while intoxicated around 9:10 a.m.
Action News spoke to the boyfriend at a home address listed for Stoms. He confirmed that he did call the police, but said he didn’t intend for Stoms to get in trouble. He said he was trying to get Stoms help for drinking.
His call to authorities, however, prompted Franklinville Township Police Department to alert the Clayton Police Department about the tip, which led officers to track Stoms’ bus down to Franklin Street and Poe Avenue. At the time, she had 23 elementary-aged students onboard.
Fran Sperry lives at the intersection near where police conducted a traffic stop of Stoms’ bus. He said he saw the bus pulled over to the side of the road, but thought it was for a motor vehicle accident.