TOMS RIVER – A school bus accident on Monday morning is now under probe by police after several students suffered minor injuries. The bus driver is now facing charges.
Toms River Police confirm to Jersey Shore Online that the bus was pulling into the Ocean County Vocational Technical School parking lot to drop off students when the incident happened. Students from the Lacey school district were onboard the bus.
Spokesperson Jillian Messina identifies the driver as 57-year-old Cheryl Rooth of Whiting. Messina said “as Roth pulled behind another bus to drop off her students, she did not stop in time and struck the rear of the unoccupied bus parked in front of her.”
Of the 28 students on Rooth’s bus, eight suffered minor injuries and three of them were juveniles.
Messina added that Rooth was not under the influence of alcohol but was allegedly under the influence of prescription medication and charged with DWI, DWI in a School Zone, DWI through a school crossing and DWI with a minor in the vehicle.
The accident investigation continues by Toms River Traffic Safety officer Robert Westfall.
The bus driver should be charged with attempted murder
The sad and sick parts of this story are that her supervisors and the Lacey Township board of Education were made aware of her drug abuses months before and did nothing, they got nasty and were dismissive after being asked to look into it. It was told to them for the safety of children, Cheryl herself and anyone else. They laughed it off and they all should be fired. When her superiors were informed they were asked not to fire her but to give her an office job but yes to get her out from behind the wheel. Cheryl is on diabetic meds, bipolar meds and other drugs and this wasn’t her first accident. Truthfully she shouldn’t have been driving at all for many years but her husband James Rooth is a lazy slug, internet troll, thief and harasser,, he hasn’t worked in 30 years and steals from family and has theft of services lawsuits against him. He has had domestic violence restraining orders filed by Cheryl against him for smacking her around for years, James also cheated on Cheryl for years with all of his best friends wives and girlfriends and even with his brothers male friends and molested his younger under-aged brother. He also did a hit and run in Asbury Park on an African American Male, it’s an unsolved murder. Cheryl was a hard-working Mother and grandmother of two fine sons who are Correction officers, she needs forgiveness and hopefully gets the help she needs and get away from that “Thing” she lives with.
Here’s another of Rooth’s accidents whereas 20 kids had to go to the Hospital. https://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/20-children-sent-to-hospital-after-van-hits-school-bus-in-lacey-township/article_aab016a0-411c-11df-8e68-001cc4c002e0.html
Jacob Theisz
Annmarie Theisz my old bus driver
Jacob Theisz is it? I wasn’t sure
Annmarie Theisz yeah it is
All injuries are said to be minor.
Ocean County Scanner News Minor or not…it never should of happened.
Why are they charging her with anything? She clearly has a disease and is a victim of it, therefore you cannot blame anything on her as it’s not her fault, it’s the disease’s fault. She doesn’t need hand cuffs and charges, she needs thoughts, prayers, and treatment.
Don’t know if you’re being facetious, but either way, someone taking prescription meds doesn’t equate to them being an addict 😉
Christopher John Karbownik I am sure that she told the superintendent of Transportation the medication she was taken they both should be charged
Christopher John Karbownik haha. Good one Christopher
Either way,certain prescriptions are not allowed to be taken as a cdl holder…and she should have known this…deserving of a dwi if it is a prescription narcotic.
Christopher John Karbownik because the churrins. They can drive like absolute assholes and no one blinks an eye. But this lady takes a prescription and everyone’s losing their minds
Mike Josephson …nothing narcotic…..but some allergy meds are actually worse and are completely legal.
You arent going to pop positive for allergy medicine…
Christopher John Karbownik so alcoholics shouldn’t be charged with DWI because being an alcoholic is a disease? (Not saying she is an alcoholic as the article says prescription drugs. Just trying to point out the absurdity of your statement.)
Mike Josephson ……EXACTLY…..so people take it without thinking of the effects…it’s “harmless”.
This is horrible, when I was on workman’s comp for my back the Dr.’s gave me percocets. I told them I had to drive a lot for my job and they make me sleepy. The Dr. told me to just drink a lot of coffee!! Glad I didn’t take them and drive!!!
Karen Kelly Haselbauer doctor should lose their license
Scott A Barnes, it was ridiculous! I asked him to put that in writing and of course he wouldn’t!! It was 10 years ago, I don’t even remember his name.
Fire her
I guess long gone are the days of random UDS for CDL drivers?! Especially if one suspects?!
Chris Tean Kinsaul they arent..I get hit frequently with randoms…some people never get pulled tho.
Mike Josephson That’s really a shame. Then stuff like this happens.
Unless you have ALL the details please make no judgements !!!!!
Judith Uhlak the cops must know something
Judith Uhlak and make no judgements I’m sorry lady but what to all the kids and the parents, me being one of them sitting with my daughter in the Er cause of her pain. Her being fearful on that bus ride cause of the erratic driving. Getting the phone call that she just smacked her face and body against the back of another seat and she’s hurting. She would t of been arrested and charged if it was an “accident”.
Judith Uhlak Absolutely no reason should validate putting children’s lives in danger!
Patti N Mike Saggau hope your daughter is ok
Judith Uhlak Lol. Unless it was your kids on the bus right ? Jerk
Kris Fallaw Piu thank you she’s very sore with a concussion sprained neck and multiple contusions. She’s home resting today.
Weather the medication was prescribed by a doctor or off the street shouldn’t have been taken while behind the wheel as I said it before all School Employees should be drug tested whether it’s a cafetiere play Grenade cafeteria worker bus driver janitor they all should be drug tested upon getting hired and periodically surprise drug test on spot
Judgement is taking prescription narcotics while driving with a cdl,irresponsible to say the least.
Laura Schneider Lange. Unlike many of you I wait for all the info then make my decision. If this makes me a jerk so be it !!!
Judith Uhlak judgements? She knowingly puts kids and other lives at risk. Save your “offense”
My heart breaks for the children and their families and hope everyone heals but , oh never mind we all have our opinions and no amount of arguing is going to change anyone s mind
Bus drivers are drug tested. The randomness could be more of a surprise. Also, when you’re a bus driver doctors don’t ask what you do or tell you that something could effect your driving. There is also not enough emphasis on the checking on those prescription drugs. Common sense is not always common. I’m glad the kids are all going to be ok. I’m sure it was frightening for them and the parents.
Judith Uhlak ….I agree. She may not have realized the effect the meds were having on her reflexes. I am a bus driver and have seen this driver in the Vocs driveway. I never saw her drive in an erratic manner.
Melanie Estelle it’s no ones responsibility but the cdl holders to know what’s put in their body…that being said any dr worth his degree will not prescribe medications that could affect driving,knowing you are a PROFESSIONAL DRIVER…atleast my dr wouldnt.Either way it falls on the driver for this..no one else.
Nobody under the influence should even think of taking a child’s life into danger. ?
Scary woman
Was she prescribed it by a real doctor or a street pharmacist?
Andrew Michael either way it doesn’t matter if prescribed by a doctor you know she signed a paper explaining all of the side effects of the medication if it was bought off the street bigger problems
Robert Fecanin and how do you know that she didn’t tell the school about it? You don’t know the details to it all so why don’t you wait before saying anything like that
Kelly Harris if she told the school about it she should not have been on the road
Andrew Michael probably a big pharma doctor
Kelly Harris because if she really told the school the school is automatically liable as well. Name one school that would knowingly put her behind the wheel knowing no school wants shit publicity. Look we all know you know her or think you know her. Maybe you never really did.
Scott A Barnes ok whatever you say LOL
Kelly Harris wow an lol emoji. Ugh. You got me……
Scott A Barnes just like you got me on
All my comments. Oh what a shame. Should i put a crying emoji now?
I don’t care what anyone says. She was an amazing bus driver. I want to know if the prescriptions were prescribed to her. And for people seriously saying attempted murder? That’s a JOKE.
You can laugh all you want. You don’t know the full story until it’s released. Same goes for everyone else assuming. Guess everyone was there and witnessed it and know everything.
Kelly Harris if you drive under the influence of drugs, weed, alcohol, anything it is in fact attempted murder. Because she has put countless of lives at risk. And sorry you’ll probably never know if she was prescribed whatever she took
Kelly Harris Dwi is a dwi. Kinda cut and dry
Scott A Barnes ….it depends on the medication. A prescribed decongestant might effect your system differently than the guy standing next to you. I can’t drive after taking Advil because it makes me sleepy….nothing on the package indicates that as a side effect; legally I can take 2 and drive my route.
I don’t think people understand that it doesn’t have to be some crazy medication. It’s prescribed. And if she let the school know which we DONT know. Then that’s on them for allowing her to continue to drive. People saying she’s popping pills and everything else is ridiculous because we have no idea what she was taking. So unless you know. Don’t assume. Wait for more details and then talk. And i will continue to state that she was a great driver when i was growing up and i had her multiple times. She never had issues at all. Because that’s the truth. And i know that for fact.
Kelly Harris sadly she is one of the nicest women I’ve ever met in my life. So generous too and would give the shirt off her back. I’m by no means siding and saying this is completely okay because no it is not, but like you said we don’t know what the prescriptions were or what they were for, for all we know she could have a serious medical condition that requires medication and she probably should have taken some time off work due to it but hey no one knows what is what. I’m glad the children were ok and only minor injury. That’s all be thankful for that.
Brook O’Rourke i totally agree with you. And I’m also not saying what she did wasn’t wrong but we don’t know any facts yet. And of course I’m very thankful the children are ok and it’s only minor injuries. That’s the most important.
Brook O’Rourke beautifully said brook!!! It’s scary
Kelly Harris …..Attempted murder? That’s ridiculous. It’s not as if she deliberately slammed into another bus.
Would you allow your kids on a bus with her???
Diane Ciociola LiMandri yes.She has driven a bus for many years and has been reliable and trustworthy..give your judgment a break if you do not know,all the facts
Waiting for details. Some posts say she was drunk, another no. Under influence meds. I think it happened yest., they wouldnt know yet what’s in her system unless she told them. Not at all siding w her but not giving entire story.
If the woman is taking medication because she is sick then she needed to take a leave of absence rather than driving with her school bus and jeopardizing kids
90% of bus drivers should be retested. They’re above ups trucks and transit busses on the list of crap drivers
This is who they hire to drive a bus??!!! There was nobody better after they took a look at her..sorry but the woman looks like she could barely take care of herself let alone operate a bus full of kids!!!!
Lisa Janusz they can’t do that that’s descrimination just by looking at someone doesn’t define the person !
Lisa Janusz she’s been a bus driver for a LONG time. That’s pretty damn rude.
Jenna Lynne well when it comes to driving kids you have to do it!!:You think a bus is easy to drive..then have someone popping pills!! The day this happened if she looked like that someone should have noticed she looks high!! They should be drug tested monthly. The4es beennso many deadly bus accidents because of this…and I constantly even see them speeding down my street and it’s a hill and they come zooming down 25 mph street going 45 breaks squeaking I hear it all the way down the street!! So save the PC crap on this one because 1 of your kids got hurt let’s see if you would be defending her!!!
You too Kelly…give me a break!!! Snap into teality
Reality
Lisa Janusz then you should correct what you said because you said just by looking at them which is DISCRIMINATION maybe you should’ve said they should do random drug tests but you don’t even know if they were prescribed or not your so quick to take little info && run with it ? && there’s plenty of busses in toms river lmao let me guess it was her speeding every time ?? Maybe you should write a book to the board instead of venting on a status ‼?
I see all the young girls in their white SUVs driving like lunatics wayy over the speed limit every day going to work…so you’re probably no expert on driving..get back to me when you’re driving 45 years
Lisa Janusz and how do you know she was popping pills? It states a prescribed medication. You don’t know what she was prescribed and what she was taken. And it also doesn’t state whether or not she told the school. So unless you know her and work at the school and witnessed the accident. Why don’t you hold off your judgement of someone who was just arrested in a mug shot before you actually hear the full story.
Jenna Lynne there’s no point in arguing with someone who worries more about looks apparently than anything else.
It’s a joke honestly. ??♀️
I stand by what I’ve said..she looks impaired in this pic and got in a bus and drove it. Shea arrested so clearly it speaks for itself. The good Judgment was up to HER and she got behind the wheel and drove a BUS!!! So any way you slice it girls it’s her fault
Lisa Janusz nobody’s saying it wasn’t her fault ? but your delusional && worried about looks ‼
It’s not about looks that way she looks high!! Do you really think this was her first time doing this.. it’s the first time she got caught!!!
Lisa Janusz maybe you should stand at the end of your drive way with a ticket book && maybe it is her first time looking like this were you there ?? We’re you the one that hired her ??
Kelly Harris that does not excuse the issue she has. A dwi. Who cares if it’s “rude”?
Jenna Lynne jobs use discrimination in hiring practices all the time it called pidgeon holing
These girls are ignorant brats..let your kid get hurt ..there’s something else for you…you’re dumb!!
Jenna Lynne what did she say that was discriminatory?
I’m allowed my opinion n their attacking me…so what does this tell you?
I stated the truth..that was it
Jenna Lynne why are you so fake offended by what Lisa said?
Thanks Scott but they wont answer you now…thats what the real bullies do. I have sons and I’m a grandma and all I’m saying is I want them safe. Their turning it into a political argument.
Lisa Janusz ….we are subject to random drug tests…..which doesn’t necessarily matter if a Dr. wrote the scrip. It really depends on what drugshe was taking.
Lisa Janusz wow ignorant brats? How low of you. First looks and now calling people brats. How mature of you.
Lmao so mean feelings hurt ???
Tralies Brooke
Dan Sharkey
Nicholas Destefano
Tralies Brooke
Guilty before the facts, social media tried and hung. SMH
What the literal fuck.
Some drugs, you shouldn’t be driving, that’s agreed. Too bad, she’s not hasidic, she’d get off.
She has been a bus driver for a long time.. shitty things happen. This isn’t the place to judge her! I’m sure she feels terrible about this and will probably see all of your comments, because she human like everyone else here.
The laws in this state make me sick innocent kids and people everyday are hurt because nobody cares and important things slip through the cracks !! Wake up and do your job who ever you are controlling this country and this state with laws that are broken and bad people just walk away while the innocent suffer !!!!!
On meds that the warning label said not to drive while taking medication. Danger the lives of children and all the rest of us because you are ? (trash)