Handcuffs (Shorebeat File Photo/ banspy/ Flickr)
Lakewood police say a Toms River man who was driving a school bus was drunk behind the wheel Wednesday morning.
Officer Daniel Brooks, who was working an extra duty assignment in the area of Chestnut Street and Vermont Avenue at about 8:30 a.m., radioed in to headquarters that he was “out with two vehicles, one of which was a school bus with approximately 20 children on board, involved in a road rage incident,” police said.
While officers spoke to the operator of the school bus, 54-year-old Angel Colon of Toms River, Officer Ralph Hatt detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath, police said in a statement. Colon was also described as having slurred speech and bloodshot eyes.
A further investigation by Hatt and Officer Christopher DiBiase resulted in his arrest for driving under the influence. In addition, Colon was charged with the endangering the welfare of the children on board, and was awaiting transport to the Ocean County Jail Wednesday afternoon.
There were no injuries reported. Police did not disclose which bus company the driver was working for.
