LINCOLN, R.I. (WPRI) — A school bus driver is now on unpaid administrative leave after she was arrested for driving drunk — after driving kids to school Friday.
First Student, who employed Ayla Johnson, 27, as a school bus driver, said Monday it had removed her from service.
When Johnson showed up at Northern Elementary School in Lincoln Friday afternoon to pick up children and take them home, an administrator called police after she appeared intoxicated — allegedly stumbling off of the bus. Officers said Johnson failed sobriety tests; they charged her with driving under the influence.
Police said Johnson had done bus runs for Lincoln High School and Lincoln Middle School before arriving at Northern. But they would not say if they believed Johnson was definitely drunk when she was transporting the middle and high school students; they would only say they are investigating.
First Student wouldn’t answer questions about Johnson’s record. In a statement, they said in part: “We prioritize safety as number one. We have removed the driver from service and are doing an internal review.”Eyewitness News Reporter Madeleine Wright is working the details, and will have reaction from Lincoln parents tonight on Eyewitness News starting live at 5 on WPRI 12.
