SARATOGA SPRINGS, Utah — A bus driver for the Alpine School District was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence with elementary-aged special education students Tuesday afternoon, Saratoga Springs police confirmed.
Authorities have identified the driver as 52-year-old Sherry Lund.
The bus was pulled over at Redwood Road and Pony Express Way, said Owen Jackson, spokesman for Saratoga Springs City.
"Officers made contact with the driver and noticed some impairment as well as the smell of alcohol a strong smell of alcohol," Jackson said.
Lund failed a field sobriety test, was arrested, cited and released.
"There was potential for greater danger with this as well as the students and other drivers on the road to be injured and of course it's fortunate that didn't happen," Jackson said.
Alpine School District officials confirmed four special needs students were on board as well as an aid.
"We're deeply disappointed that something like this would happen. We obviously have drug and alcohol policies in place and obviously this employee acted outside of those policies," David Stephenson said, of the Alpine School District.
As for the students on board, some were taken home by a substitute bus driver while others were picked up by their parents.
"This evening we are communicating with each family of the students that are transported on that bus to indicate what happened and what our plan is going forward," Stephenson said.
District officials say Lund typically transports 12 special needs elementary-aged students to Snow Springs Elementary, 850 S. 1700 West, Lehi, and Alpine Transition Education Center, 766 E. Bamberger Drive, American Fork.
Lund has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the police investigation as well as the school district's own internal investigation.
