School bus driver allegedly took drugs

A school bus driver alleged to have driven under the influence of drugs appeared before the registrar in Whakatane District Court yesterday.

Tessa Beattie, 32, is charged with driving a transport service vehicle under the influence of a qualifying drug.

She was remanded to reappear in court on August 10.

The charge arose after her bus was stopped in May.

She failed a drug-impaired driving test and a subsequent blood sample contained evidence of the use of a qualifying drug.

Beattie was suspended following the incident and later resigned.

- NZPA