The driver, Troy Reynolds, 48, was driving students and adults back from a field trip in Virginia to Murch Elementary School inWashington when he veered off the road, reports NBC News.
Nine children were injured after the bus hit a rock, causing the rim to bend the tire to flatten. Nine children were treated for minor injuries.
Reynolds later failed a sobriety test and was taken to an adult detention center. He was found to have a blood alcohol content of .20, well above the legal limit of .08.
District Chancellor Lewis Ferebee said the school system will conduct a thorough review of transportation vendors "to ensure that student safety is always prioritized."