One student passenger and the driver of an Alabama school bus were transported to the hospital yesterday morning after a man who was allegedly driving under the influence, crashed into their school bus.

There is ever an acceptable time or place for a drunk driver to be on the road, but local news reports indicate that this accident occurred while the bus was taking students to school at around eight o'clock in the morning. It somehow seems all the more egregious for a drunk driver to putting lives at risk on a Tuesday morning as children are making their way to school.

At least one other driver became sufficiently worried after observing this 50-year-old man's driving that he called the police before the accident even took place. The other driver followed behind the allegedly intoxicated driver and observed his erratic driving as he waited for police to arrive.

Apparently the police had very nearly caught up to the suspect when the school bus approached from the opposite direction. As the school bus came down a hill, the 50-year-old driver swerved over the centerline into the oncoming traffic lane striking the front corner of the bus.

Fortunately neither the injury to the student nor the driver were described as life-threatening, and both are expected to be all right. The 50-year-old driver was taken to the city jail on drunk driving charges. Law enforcement authorities have indicated that additional charges may be forthcoming.

Source: The Birmingham News, "Hoover police charge man in school bus crash," Carol Robinson, Jan. 17, 2012