JEFFERSON COUNTY - A Hamilton County bus driver who passed out at the wheel of a bus loaded with students, last week has tested positive for an influential substance, according to Jefferson County Sheriff Roger Mulch.

Bus driver Tonya Glass, 41, of McLeansboro was taken from the accident site on East Littlewood Road to St. Mary's Good Samaritan Hospital with minor injuries. Blood work was done at the hospital.

Mulch said Glass subsequently was cited with a DUI for the presence of a substance that could have contributed to the crash.

Sheriff's officials said Glass passed out and the bus veered off the roadway about 3:45 p.m. on May 27. The bus struck a culvert and continued about 100 yards off the road before hitting a tree, continuing forward, and finally coming to rest. No students were injured.

"The story is that the kids did physically shut off the bus," Mulch said. "They checked on each other and made sure each other were alright. They did a great job."

Mulch said it was also the students, ranging in age between 5 and 14, who got help, although he wasn't sure whether a car was flagged down or a cell phone was used.

Mulch said although tickets were issued there are a number of extenuating circumstances that must be investigated before any criminal charges will be filed against Glass, if at all.

"She's received one citation for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and a second citation for DUI," Mulch said.

The sheriff said it is not being released, pending further investigation, what the substance was or whether it was prescribed to Glass.

"We found somewhat probable cause that she might have been under the influence of some type of drug," he said. "It might have been a prescription drug. The reason the deputy wrote the citation was to have us covered."

Mulch said blood work and other evidence have been sent to the Illinois State Police Crime Lab for further testing.

tara.fasol@thesouthern.com

618-351-5824