A suburban school bus driver’s blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit when he collided with an SUV while transporting students in Lake County, authorities said.
James Dolan, 61, of Hoffman Estates, was transporting students from Barrington School District 220’s Prairie Middle School on Thursday when he failed to yield to oncoming traffic at Cuba and Ela roads in Deer Park and collided with a Chevrolet Traverse SUV, according to a news release from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
The driver of the Traverse, a 58-year-old man of Carpentersville, was unable to stop on the snow-covered roads and struck the school bus. Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene of the collision and observed signs that Dolan was driving under the influence of the alcohol, authorities said.
He faces a felony charge of aggravated driving under the influence, which carries up to three years in prison.
“It is absolutely shameful that a professional school bus driver would put all of those children in his care at significant risk by driving drunk,” Lake County Sheriff John D. Idleburg said in a statement released Sunday. “We are grateful none of the students, and nobody else was injured, as the driver’s horrifically poor judgment could have resulted in a tragic outcome.”
Following the crash, the bus driver requested to go to the hospital due to a medical issue. The Further investigation revealed his blood alcohol concentration was more than twice the legal limit, authorities said.
Dolan was discharged from the hospital on Friday and subsequently taken into custody on a felony charge of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol. A judge set bond at $100,000, sheriff’s officials stated.