Bend-La Pine Schools bus driver arrested for alleged DUII, reckless endangering
Kelsey Merison
(Update: adding statement from Bend La-Pine Schools and info about them notifying the 18 families the day after it happened).
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A 67-year-old Bend-La Pine Schools bus driver was arrested Friday evening after allegedly driving under the influence, according to Bend Police.
The driver, identified as Martha Ann Gerlicher, was taken into custody on suspicion of DUII and reckless endangerment following a report from a school transportation employee.
Police say the call came in around 6:45 p.m. on April 3, after the employee raised concerns about Gerlicher’s condition earlier in the day. According to investigators, Gerlicher had contacted the transportation office, claiming the brakes on her bus were not working.
By that point, she had already completed a route for Pine Ridge Elementary School and had arrived at High Desert Middle School to begin another. When the transportation employee reached her location around 3:15 p.m., they found no mechanical issues with the bus but suspected Gerlicher was impaired.
The employee was removed from duty and transported to a private testing facility, where breath samples reportedly showed high levels of alcohol.
Several hours later, the school district contacted nonemergency dispatch. Officers responded to Gerlicher’s home and took her into custody. She was transported to the Bend Police Department, where at approximately 11 p.m., about seven hours after the initial testing, she registered a blood alcohol concentration of 0.16 percent, according to authorities.
Gerlicher was then booked into the Deschutes County Jail on suspicion of DUII and reckless endangerment.
In a statement, Bend-La Pine Schools emphasized that no students were physically harmed, but acknowledged the concern caused by the incident.
“The safety of students is always our top priority. The District has zero tolerance for behavior that endangers the well-being of children,” the district said.
Officials added that families of the 18 elementary students who were on the bus that afternoon were notified the following day. “It was important that they hear directly from us about this as soon as possible,” the statement said.
The district said it “deeply regrets the distress this incident caused student riders, their families, and the public,” and emphasized its continued commitment to safety and accountability.
“We want to assure our community that the District remains committed to student safety and maintaining high standards for employee performance.”
Gerlicher has been placed on leave pending further action in accordance with employment law and district policies.
KTVZ’s Tracee Tuesday will have a full report during the 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. newscasts on FOX and NBC affiliates.