A bus driver transporting more than 50 students on GW’s Alternative Spring Break in New Orleans was pulled over and arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol Wednesday evening, a University spokeswoman confirmed Thursday.

University spokeswoman Michelle Sherrard said the driver – an employee of DC Trails charter and bus company – was transporting 52 students and one staff member from an alumni event back to the group’s lodging accommodations Wednesday evening, when he was pulled over by authorities and subsequently arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol.

“All 96 trip participants are safe,” Sherrard said, adding that the students were transported back to their lodging accommodations by another bus driver. “Parents of the students also have been notified about the incident.”

William Torres, President of DC Trails, declined to release the name of the employee, adding that in his 25 years working at the company he has never encountered an incident where an employee was accused of driving while intoxicated.

“I took a flight out this morning. I am in New Orleans in the process of trying to obtain any records I can from the police department here,” Torres said. “This is a very serious matter. I don’t know the facts of exactly what happened at this point. I do know the safety of the students is the most important thing to us.”

Torres called the incident “isolated,” adding that the employee accused of driving under the influence of alcohol is an “outstanding employee” with no complaints filed against him.

“I just don’t know if this is true,” Torres said. “I don’t know what would drive him to do this.”

“We are here rectifying the problem,” Torres added. “We want everybody to know this is being dealt with quickly and swifly and all of the kids will be safe.”