The traffic police arrested a school van driver on Thursday morning in Pulikeshinagar when he was driving the vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

The suspect Lakshmipathi (40), is a resident of Fraser Town. He was ferrying about 30 children to Seventh Day Adventist High School and PU College at Coles Park, when the police stopped him.

“The alcohol detector test result showed that he was heavily drunk. The suspect claimed that he had consumed alcohol to forget his domestic problems,” said a police officer.

He was driving the van from Nagawara to the school. He attempted to take a reverse turn much before Aralikatte Junction near Venkateshwara temple where the traffic police were conducting a special drive around 7.40 am. “He attempted to take a reverse turn and I grew suspicious. I stopped the vehicle and subjected him to the test,” sub-inspector Hanumanthaiah told DH.

The police contacted the school principal and informed him about the driver’s arrest. The school authorities sent another vehicle to ferry the students.  Lakshmipathi has been booked for drunk-driving.