Alleged Drunk Driving Lands Oregon School Bus Driver in Jail

April 22, 2026

alleged drunk driving breathalyzer — Stock image.

Police in central Oregon arrested a school bus driver on suspicion of driving under the influence for a blood-alcohol concentration four times the legal limit for a commercial driver.

The school driver, identified as 67-year-old Martha Ann Gerlicher, reportedly completed one route for Bend La-Pine Schools April 3 and was preparing to begin another when a school district employee observed the alleged impairment.

According to a statement released by the City of Bend Police Department, the Bend-La Pine Schools transportation employee called authorities after suspecting Gerlicher was intoxicated. Earlier, Gerlicher had contacted the transportation office to report brake problems on her bus after finishing a route for Pine Ridge Elementary School. She was at High Desert Middle School to begin another route when the other transportation employee arrived around 3:15 p.m.

The employee reportedly found no mechanical issues with the bus but detected signs Gerlicher might be under the influence. Gerlicher was removed from the vehicle and taken to a private testing facility, where she reportedly showed high levels of alcohol.

Blood-Alcohol Testing Indicate Impairment

Police were then contacted and took Gerlicher into custody. Later testing administered at the Bend Police Department around 11 p.m., roughly seven hours after the alleged drunk driving and initial screening, indicated a bloodalcohol concentration of 0.16 percent. The legal limit for all commercial driver’s license holders nationwide is 0.04 percent, half of the 0.08 legal limit for other motorists in Oregon.

Gerlicher was booked into the Deschutes County Jail on suspicion of driving under the influence of intoxicants and reckless endangerment. As of April 7, court records indicated no formal charges had been filed. No students were reportedly harmed during the alleged drunk driving incident.

In a statement to local news reporters, Bend-La Pine School District said that student safety remains its top priority and confirmed that Gerlicher was placed on leave pending further action.