Tensions were high today on the StarTran 25 bus to Vine when local bus driver Bertha Hendrickson ate an entire raw potato as though it were no big deal.

“It was terrifying,” said political science major Jeremy Taylor. “She actually sat there and ate an entire raw potato, without attempting to wash it or brush the dirt off.”

This isn’t the first time such a complaint has been brought up against Hendrickson. Since she was hired in June 2011, the StarTran bus line has received a total of 215 separate complaints regarding Hendrickson’s dietary habits.

“I just don’t know what to do anymore,” said StarTran official Sam Langley. “I mean, she’s a great bus driver. She always makes her routes on time, but at the same time a line has to be drawn somewhere.“

“Whatever happened to nice crisp apples? They’re juicy and sweet, characteristics that potatoes don’t even share a little bit,” Langley continued.

“What’s next, drivers eating onions? I don’t think so, not on my bus.”

When pressed for comments most witnesses refused, claiming the memories were too painful to relive. One brave student gave DailyER correspondents the full scoop.

“Yeah, I saw the whole thing” said pre-law major Erica Weissman. “At first I thought it was kind of weird that her cargo short pockets were bursting at the seams, but then when she pulled out and ate an entire raw potato, I was downright shocked.”

“She must have had at least ten potatoes in her pockets, just ready to go,” Weissman added.

Weissman also recalled having to stay on the bus for nearly an hour, saying that someone needed to document this strange behavior.

“At some point a homeless man got on the bus and asked the driver for one of her potatoes, and I shit you not, she bared her teeth and screeched at him until he sat down out of her range of vision,“ Weissman said.

DailyER correspondents scheduled a 30 minute interview with Hendrickson, during which she said no words, but ate three potatoes.