Drivers on the Capilano and Southgate routes steer their buses into the South Campus transit centre, in Edmonton, Alberta, on August 23, 2011. IAN KUCERAK/EDMONTON SUN

EDMONTON - A city woman has admitted viciously punching, kicking and biting a female Edmonton Transit bus driver who had taken away her car keys to stop her from driving drunk.

Kristina Louise Dawson, 26, pleaded guilty Thursday in Provincial Court to charges of impaired driving and assault causing bodily harm.

Crown prosecutor Bertrand Malo told court that Adrien Whalen was driving an Edmonton Transit bus west on Yellowhead Trail on Nov. 9, 2011, at 11:25 p.m. when she spotted Dawson on the side of the road walking around her damaged car and looking like she needed help.

However, after Whalen pulled over, Dawson got back in her car and drove off with the hazard lights still on.

Court heard Whalen followed the car and Dawson again stopped and the bus driver got out to talk to her.

It was at that point that Whalen noticed a strong smell of alcohol on Dawson’s breath and that she was slurring as she admitted she had been drinking and had hit a curb.