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Davis Co. School officials react to DUI arrest of bus driver

Posted at 11:11 PM, Oct 14, 2014
and last updated 2014-10-15 01:11:15-04

DAVIS COUNTY, Utah -- The investigation continues at the Davis School District regarding a bus driver pulled over and arrested for driving under the influence with more than 60 students on board.

"We are still working with the driver to get her statement about what happened so the investigation is continuing," said Chris Williams, community relations director for the Davis School District.

Lycia Martinez, 39, was pulled over Monday morning on Interstate 15 at 12300 South.  She was transporting 67 students and seven adults to a student council field trip at Brigham Young University in Provo.

Utah Highway Patrol deputies found four containers of prescription drugs in Martinez’s name inside her purse.

The State of Utah requires all school bus drivers to undergo a background check and random drug testing. They also require all drivers on prescription drugs to report the drugs to their supervisor along with a doctor’s note of approval for them to be on the job.

"I have to fill out paperwork and hand that in to my supervisor and they have to read that and say, ‘tell me a little about this.’ It's not that this paper is put in a mailbox but there is a face-to-face conversation about the prescription meds that I'm on," Williams said.

The question remains whether Martinez followed this protocol or she somehow fell through the cracks of the system. The district is still trying to determine how much they knew about her medical condition.

"People are asked to be honest in their employment record, they can be fired if they are not, so I do know that we have steps in place," Williams said.

There have also been allegations by Martinez's mother-in-law that she has a history of drug addiction and at one time was in rehab.

The district did not comment on those allegations.