A Utah school bus diver was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence during an elementary school field trip.
Chaperones on the school bus with nearly 70 children called 911 Monday, reporting that the bus was swerving in and out of traffic on Interstate 15, police told The Salt Lake Tribune. Other motorists also called to report the out of control bus.
Utah Highway Patrol caught up with the Davis County School District bus near the exit for Draper.
The driver, 39-year-old Lycia Martinez, was given a sobriety test, which she failed. UHP spokesman Joe Dougherty said the six-year district bus driver was not drinking alcohol but might have been taking pain medication, The Salt Lake Tribune reported.
Four pill bottles for undisclosed medications were found with Martinez, all of which she had a prescription for. But if she was taking them, she should not have done so before driving a vehicle, authorities said. The bottles warn that dizziness is a side effect.
The students were on their way to Brigham Young University for conferences for fifth and sixth graders, KSTU reported. Another bus driver came and took the students to the university.
Martinez was placed on paid administrative leave following her arrest for DUI and failing to operate within one lane. She faces a more severe DUI charge because the children were under the age of 16.
"No question, we had precious cargo on board that bus," Chris Williams, spokesman for Davis County School District, told The Salt Lake Tribune. "I can't imagine how it would be if something more had happened. We are so glad there were no collisions."
