A bus driver contracted with Knox County Schools was arrested Thursday morning, charged with driving under the influence, Knoxville Police Department Communication Manager Scott Erland told WVLT News. We now know more about the arrest, thanks to an incident report obtained by WVLT News.
According to the report, Knox County Schools Security Lieutenant Dustin Tilly said that Holston Middle School had received calls about a bus driving erratically.
Lieutenant Tilly reportedly then called Officer James Manning at Holston Middle School to check on the bus driver, 63-year-old Matthew Leveque. Officer Manning said in court records that Leveque had missed several stops Thursday morning and was later than normal in dropping off 28 children at Rita Elementary at 19 kids at Holston.
The school security officer said in the report that Leveque’s eyes were pinpoint and were twitching, and when pulling the school bus camera video a KCS employee said he could smell alcohol coming from Leveque.
When school officers contacted Leveque he was still sitting in the driver’s seat of the school bus with the keys in the ignition, the report said.
Knoxville police officers responded to Holston Middle School, located at 600 Chilhowee Drive in East Knoxville, around 9 a.m. after being told about “potential issues” by a KCS security staff member.
Officers said that Leveque stated he had taken some medications for blood pressure, his heart and acid reflux. The officer said in the report that Leveque was delayed in his response to questions, had slurred and mumbled speech, had difficulty maintaining balance and smelled like alcohol.
Officers also said that when Leveque was asked what he had to drink he said that was unsure how much he had to drink because he was just pouring vodka into shot glasses and then mixing it with orange juice. Leveque told officers that he thought he might have drank approximately a quarter of a fifth of vodka.
The records also show that when officers searched the bus, they found several water bottles near the driver’s seat.
Even though there were students on Leveque’s bus, Erland told WVLT News that no one was hurt.
WVLT News reached out to KCS for a comment, and the school system sent the following:
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.Knox County Schools
Leveque worked for Lynch Bus Lines, a third-party contractor for the school system.
WVLT News reached out for comment but had not heard back. Story courtesy of WVLT
