An Illinois man, Ryan J. Vanheissle, was arrested for allegedly driving a school bus drunk and crashing it with students aboard

An Illinois man was arrested for allegedly driving a school bus drunk and crashing it with students aboard.

The incident occurred in Gurnee on Wednesday when Ryan J. Vanheissle,36, crashed the bus while driving under the influence with seven middle school children. Investigators said Vanheissle made a sharp turn and crashed into a brick mailbox, then denied he was drinking during an interview with police. He told officers that he blacked out during the crash, but officers later revealed he failed the sobriety tests.

During a vehicle search, officers found a bookbag containing alcoholic beverages and said he let out a cup of lemonade that smelled like it was mixed with alcohol. In a statement, Woodland District Superintendent Robert Machak said the district was cooperating with police and called the case a “very serious manner.”