James Dolan, 61, of Hoffman Estates
A Barrington Area Unit District 220 school bus driver faces a felony driving under the influence charge alleging he was drunk Thursday when his bus crashed with an SUV near Deer Park, authorities said Sunday.
James Dolan, 61, of the 4000 block of Victoria Drive in Hoffman Estates, was driving the bus with students aboard when the crash occurred at about 4:20 p.m. in the intersection of Ela and Cuba roads, according to Lake County sheriff’s police.
None of the children were injured, but Dolan asked to go to the hospital due to a medical issue and was admitted. He was arrested after his discharge Sunday.
Authorities said Dolan was driving a Barrington District 220 school bus when he attempted to turn left on Cuba Road from northbound Ela Road in front of an oncoming Chevrolet Traverse. The 58-year-old Carpentersville man driving the SUV couldn’t stop because of the snow-covered road and hit the school bus, sheriff’s police said.
Sheriff’s deputies at the scene detected signs Dolan was under the influence, authorities said. Further investigation indicated Dolan was at nearly twice the legal threshold of alcohol for driving, according to the sheriff’s office.
Dolan is charged with aggravated driving under the influence — a Class 4 felony — and was ordered held on $100,000 bail.
More here.
How fortunate that no one was hurt. This driver was known for getting lost, he was in Fox Point at the time of the accident and should have been in the Biltmore neighborhood dropping these kids off. I wonder how easy it was it for him to hide his alcoholic breath behind a mask?