School bus driver suspended after allegedly working while intoxicated

A Highland Park High School bus driver has been suspended after allegedly transporting a girls' basketball team to a Saturday tournament in Elk Grove Village while intoxicated.

Carol Votsmier, a spokeswoman with Township High School District 113, said the freshman and sophomore girls' basketball team boarded a bus driven by Juan Garcia and left Highland Park High School Saturday at about 1:30 p.m. Saturday for a tournament in Elk Grove Village.

Roughly 10 minutes after leaving the high school, the team coach and a parent following the bus noticed the bus weaving in and out of traffic, Votsmier said.

The coach told Garcia to pull the bus over and got the students off before contacting the school athletic director and explaining the situation.

Votsmier said the athletic director drove to the scene and contacted police.

She said no children were injured in the incident, but admitted the safety of the students were at risk during the bus trip.

"The safety of the students is definitely our number one priority, and when it was discovered the bus driver was impaired, the bus was told to stop and the students were removed," she said.

Officials from Deerfield Police were not immediately available for comment.

Votsmier said Garcia, who has been employed by the high school for "four or five years" was taken into custody by Deerfield police.

She said a second bus driver was able to drive the girls to the tournament in Elk Grove Village. The girls made it to the tournament safely and on time.

In addition, Votsmier said while the girls were at the tournament, district Superintendent George Fornero drafted a letter explaining the situation for parents. The letter was copied and sent home with members of the freshman and sophomore team following the tournament.

A second letter was also drafted and e-mailed out to all parents in the district on Monday, Votsmier said.

The letter explained the situation and how the district intends to stop this from happening in the future, she said.

"All employees are given a drug and alcohol screening annually and when they are hired," she said. "Also, during the week, the bus supervisor has individual meetings with drivers prior to them leaving for their route."

She said during field trips and on weekends, a bus supervisor does not speak with bus drivers. She said the district intends to make sure drivers are talked to prior to trips taking place when a supervisor isn't present.

"We need to be more proactive regarding this situation during field trips and on weekends," she said.