When 37 children boarded their school-bus in Alfred, New York one late afternoon, they had no idea that their driver, Martha Thompson, was drunk.
But, as her driving became more and more erratic, they quickly realised they were in grave danger.
Exceeding speeds of 70 MPH, hitting a mailbox and, at one point, rolling into a ditch, it became clear that Martha’s reckless driving could prove deadly.
Sobbing and screaming at her to stop, the youngsters turned to three teenage girls who were on the bus with them for help.
But, when the older girls asked her to let them out of the bus, Martha refused to do so, ordering them to get back in their seats so she could finish the journey.
Thankfully, after some quick thinking from the older kids aboard the bus, the children were able to escape out of the emergency exit.
Thompson has now been sentenced to 90 days in jail for being drunk behind the wheel, as well as 37 cases of reckless endangerment.
She will also face six months of electronic home monitoring, plus five years probation and mandatory counselling, and fined $1,000.
Her lawyer told CBS News that the driver had a bad reaction of a beer and her medication.
"She is very sorry,” he said. “She is very sorry to the bus company. She's embarrassed.
“She's very sorry to the children. She never, ever would intentionally put any of those children… in any type of risk.”