This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
West Jordan • A former Davis County School District bus driver pleaded guilty to a DUI charge Wednesday, admitting she was under the influence of prescription drugs last year when she drove a bus with about 70 children and their adult chaperones on board.
Lycia Kae Martinez, 40, pleaded guilty to the class A misdemeanor in West Jordan's 3rd District Court, while a charge of class C misdemeanor failure to stay in one lane was dismissed as part of a plea deal.
The Davis County woman faces a maximum penalty of up to one year in jail when she is sentenced on Dec. 7.
On Oct. 13, 2014, several witnesses — including one chaperone — called 911 to report several near-collisions with other vehicles.
"She almost hit this van next to us!" the chaperone told dispatchers as the bus sped through southern Salt Lake County during a field trip to Brigham Young University in Provo. "OK, I am honestly shaking at this point. I'm going to just close my eyes so I see nothing."
After a Utah Highway Patrol trooper pulled the bus over, Martinez was arrested.
Martinez had four bottles of pills — containing clonidine, cyclobenzaprine, Xanax and meloxicam — in her purse, according to a probable cause statement filed in court. Toxicology reports showed Martinez had clonidine and Xanax "in amounts exceeding the upper range of the recommended daily dosage" in her blood. She also had cyclobenzaprine, a central nervous system depressant, in her system, according to court records.
After the arrest, her license was suspended for 120 days, according to court records filed by her attorney. Martinez initially fought the suspension, and asked for a judicial review. But that case was dismissed in August, according to court records.
District spokeswoman Shauna Lund said Martinez resigned from her position in January. She was on paid leave between the October incident and her resignation, Lund said.
Twitter: @jm_miller