DAYTON, Tenn. (AP) — Authorities say a Tennessee bus driver transporting students to school has been charged with driving under the influence.
Rhea County Sheriff’s Detective Rocky Potter told news outlets that 58-year-old Michael Ledbetter was arrested Wednesday morning after failing a field sobriety test. Potter said some students onboard the bus called their parents to report the driver smelled of a possible intoxicant and was driving erratically. The parents reported it to the bus garage and Ledbetter was told to pull over and wait for police to arrive.
Potter said there were 27 students on board when Ledbetter pulled over.
Rhea County Superintendent Jerry Levengood told parents in a recorded message that Ledbetter was immediately fired.
He was taken to the Rhea County jail. Online records don’t indicate if he has an attorney.