Fired campus bus driver had history of auto accidents

The IU bus driver arrested Nov. 5 for allegedly driving while under the influence caused two accidents in two weeks prior to her arrest, according to an IU Police Department accident report and Campus Bus Service Director Jim Hosler. \nAccording to the IUPD report, IU bus driver Robyn C. Griffith sideswiped a car in Memorial Stadium's White Lot the evening of Oct. 24. She also hit a tree Nov. 4 on Indiana Avenue, causing extensive damage to IU bus No. 647, Hosler said. \nFollowing an accident Nov. 5, Bloomington Police Department officers arrested Griffith for driving while intoxicated and possession of a controlled substance -- diphenoxylate with atropine, said Bloomington Police Department Capt. Joe Qualters. \nThe drug, an antidiarrheal, is sold under the brand name Lomotil.\n"It appears it was a prescription in her possession, and she didn't have a prescription for it," Qualters said.\nQualters said the department is still awaiting the results of a blood test sent to the Indiana State Police.\nGriffith was fired Nov. 7.\nAccording to the IUPD report, Griffith, driving IU bus No. 650, swiped a black Honda Accord Oct. 24, causing damage to the vehicle. According to a witness cited in the accident report, the Accord shook after being hit by Griffith's bus. The witness said Griffith stopped for a moment and then continued driving. \nResponding officer Tom Kuhlenschmidt did not cite Griffith for fleeing the scene of an accident because other IU bus drivers informed him it is difficult for drivers to tell whether or not they are involved in a minor accident, according to the report. \nGriffith's accident Nov. 4 involving IU bus No. 657 was not reported to either IUPD or BPD. Hosler said the bus was drivable. He is currently awaiting bids to repair the bus, and it is not being driven.\nGriffith was not drug tested after either the Oct. 24 or Nov. 4 accidents, as they did not meet federal or University policies, Hosler said. \nFor an employee to be drug tested by Campus Bus Service, an accident must occur where there is a death, an injury that requires a hospital visit or an accident from which one or both vehicles cannot be driven. Hosler said neither of the accidents met those criteria.\nWhether or not a driver is cleared to drive the day following an accident "depends on the degree of the accident," Hosler said. \nHosler stood by the decision to allow Griffith to drive following her Nov. 4 accident.\n"You can't send them home from work unless you have a valid basis," he said. "Looking back without knowing what was coming up the road, it's a difficult decision to make."\nGriffith could be reinstated if the drug test is negative, but Hosler said he would have to evaluate her accident record.\n"This is the first time it has ever happened, so it's the first time we're going through this procedure," Hosler said.