KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Knoxville Police Department said a Knox County school bus driver was arrested Thursday morning on the suspicion of driving under the influence with students on his bus.
At around 8:55 a.m., KPD officers responded to Holston Middle School after being alerted of potential issues by the Knox County Schools security staff, according to KPD.
After a field sobriety test, 63-year-old Matthew Leveque was arrested. Additional charges against him are possibly pending, KPD said.
According to the department, 19 students were on the bus when law enforcement responded. No one was hurt.
KCS provided the following statement below:
"KCS does not tolerate this type of behavior or any unsafe activity on buses that serve our students. The bus driver has been removed from the district’s roster of eligible drivers. All families whose students were on the bus were made aware of the incident, and arrangements have been made to cover transportation going forward. We appreciate KCS School Security and the Knoxville Police Department for their efforts in this matter. The safety of our students is and will remain our top priority."
Leveque was employed with Lynch Bus Lines, LLC, according to a KCS spokesperson.
This story is ongoing and we will update you as we learn more.