Bend, OR – The City of Bend Police Department reported the arrest of a school bus driver following an investigation into suspected impairment while transporting students.

According to police, the incident occurred on April 3, 2026, when Bend-La Pine Schools transportation staff received a report that a bus driver may have been operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

The driver, identified as 67-year-old Martha Ann Gerlicher of Bend, had completed a route for Pine Ridge Elementary School and was preparing for another run at High Desert Middle School.

School transportation staff said they observed signs of impairment and arranged for breath testing at a private facility, which indicated elevated alcohol levels.

The employee then removed Gerlicher from service and later notified authorities.

Officers responded to Gerlicher’s residence later that evening and took her into custody. She was transported to the Deschutes County Jail and booked on charges of DUII and reckless endangering.

Police said additional testing conducted several hours after the initial breath samples showed a blood alcohol content of 0.16 percent.