Police said a school bus driver in northwestern Indiana was arrested after she left three students aged 11, 13 and 17 driving her vehicle. The incident was captured on video and posted on Twitter.

Police say 27-year-old Joandrea McAtee let children drive her bus Thursday after she dropped off school children in Valparaiso, a small town about 80 kilometers southeast of Chicago .

McAtee, of Portage, was arrested Friday after the direction of Porter Township Schools and the Porter County Sheriff's Office investigated a parent's complaint, the Northwest Indiana Times reported.

Deputy Chief Jeff Biggs said in a press release that three students took turns for a short distance in a rural area of ​​Valparaiso.

According to the press release, McAtee was arrested when she went to the Porter Township Bus Barn to pick up her pay check. She faces charges of negligence towards a dependent, a crime, and was dismissed by the Township of Porter and the bus service provider.

"Porter School School School is angry and disappointed by the actions of this driver," said Stacey Schmidt, Executive Director of Porter Township School Corporation, in an email to the newspaper. "The safety of our students is a top priority."

"This person's actions do not reflect the hard work, dedication and professionalism of our staff," said Schmidt. "We are grateful to the students and parents who promptly shared this information with PTSC administration and police, which allowed us to react quickly and take appropriate measures to ensure student safety. "

The press release did not say whether McAtee was still in detention or whether a bond had been set for her.

"The students and parents who immediately presented this information should be commended for doing exactly what we teach, which is seeing something, saying something," said Sheriff David Reynolds. Northwest Indiana Post-Tribune.

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