Forty-eight-year-old Catherine Rios of Amador City sustained moderate injuries after crashing into a school bus. She was later arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. Photo by: Bill Lavallie

Emergency responders were breathing a sigh of relief Tuesday afternoon once they discovered that no children were hurt after a local school bus was rear-ended in Sutter Creek.

The accident happened around noon. A bus belonging to Amador County Unified School District was heading northbound on Highway 49, entering Sutter Creek from Martell. There were three students on board with the bus driver, Judy Long.

Long had pulled to a stop at the Ridge Road intersection when a black 2003 GMC slammed into the rear of the bus. The collision took place yards away from the Sutter Hill CAL FIRE station. As CAL FIRE personnel rushed over to assist, the Sutter Creek police and fire departments were dispatched to the scene.

None of the three students was injured in the crash. Long, a 56-year-old resident of Amador City, was also unharmed by the incident. Because the bus was a 2005 model that stood fairly high off the ground, the GMC sustained the bulk of the damages from the impact. The car's hood and front end were severely battered. Its driver, 48-year-old Catherine Rios of Amador City, sustained moderate injuries. Witnesses on the scene said Rios' air bag had deployed as she smashed against the bus's rear bumper.

The California Highway Patrol arrived on scene and took the lead in the investigation. It's currently unknown what speed Rios was traveling as she came down the hill. Determining that Rios might need medical attention, CHP units followed her to Sutter Amador Hospital for evaluation.

According to CHP officer Craig Harmon, once Rios was released by hospital staff, his officers arrested her on suspicion of drunken driving. Harmon said elements of the accident are still under investigation.