A Durham Regional Transit driver was allegedly drunk behind the wheel with open liquor within reach when her bus slammed into the back of an SUV on Wednesday.

Sgt. Bill Calder, of Durham Regional Police, said the crash occurred at Kingston and Whites Rds. in Pickering around 4:30 p.m.

He said the bus driver tried to change lanes so a passenger could disembark when she hit the SUV in the right-hand lane.

Nobody was injured, including the 14 passengers on the bus, Calder said.

The bus driver was arrested for impaired driving and taken to a police station, where police say she refused to provide breath samples.

Police found open liquor in the bus near the driver’s seat, he added.

Kirstin Hasted, 39, of Cobourg, is charged with impaired driving and failure to provide a breath sample.

She has since been released from custody.

Transit spokesman Bill Holmes refused to comment on the allegations, citing the bus driver’s right to privacy in the ongoing legal proceeding.

chris.doucette@sunmedia.ca