DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — A bad situation could have been much, much worse had it not been for the parents of some Bethel Elementary students.

The driver of a Bethel Local Schools bus carrying five students allegedly drove erratically Tuesday.

According to the Miami County Sheriff’s Office, numerous 911 calls were received, each of which reported a bus swerving across lanes and veering partially off the roadway near U.S. Route 40 and State Route 202.

Upon arrival, a deputy found the bus stopped by a citizen. The vehicle was carrying 5 students inside it.

All five children were transferred to a different bus unharmed.

An initial investigation determined that the bus driver showed signs of impairment — such as unsteadiness and constricted pupils. A blood draw was taken from the driver with their consent.

The sample results are pending.

The parent of one of the students realized her daughter was 20 minutes late when panic started to set in. Her daughter began sending voice recordings off of her Gizmo watch, an electronic device her parents advocated for her to have at school in case of an emergency.

That parent then called another parent for help, who was driving in the opposite direction when he saw the bus swerve off the road and almost fall into a ditch.

He drove in front of the bus and blocked it, asking the driver to stop driving and the children to be let off.

He said the bus driver proceeded to slam the door and drive away, swerving some more. He says he got back in his car and cut her off again,  demanding the children be let off.

“I showed up a minute after he did detain the bus,” said the first parent. “I tried to get her off the bus. She would not open the door to the point where there’s kids screaming for help. “I will never forget those children’s faces banging on the windows, asking for me to help them.”

In a message sent to parents Tuesday obtained by 2 NEWS, Superintendent Michael Nutter said that the district is fully cooperating with the Miami County Sheriff’s Office.

The message reads:

Good evening.  We had an incident with the driver of Bus #4 today, I apologize and I am deeply sorry for the worry this has caused, the inconvenience, and the late arrival home, all of which is unacceptable and will be dealt with. The one thing that I am thankful for is that all children were returned home safely.  The Miami County Sheriff’s Office has taken the lead on this and started an investigation.  The driver was put on administrative leave immediately and an investigation into this matter is now ongoing.  Any and all information will now run through the Miami County Sheriff’s Office. We are fully cooperating with the authorities.

Michael Nutter, Superintendent, Bethel Local Schools

While they’re grateful for some communication, the parents said they have complained about the bus driver in the past and are disappointed they had to wait seven hours for a vague update. They say their children are traumatized.

“When she got off the bus, her words were, ‘I thought I was going to die,’ “ said a parent. “She had the fear of life in her eyes and face, hysterical to where it took over an hour to calm her down.”

The sheriff’s office said in a press release that it appreciates the quick response of the community.

An investigation is ongoing.