Katie Park

Asbury Park Press

LAKEWOOD - A school bus driver with about 20 kids aboard smelled of alcohol when he spoke with a police officer during a road rage investigation Wednesday morning, police said.

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Angel Colon, 54, of Toms River, slurred his speech and sported bloodshot eyes when he spoke with Ralph Hatt, a Lakewood police officer, a little after 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Lakewood Police Detective Lt. Gregory Staffordsmith said.

The bus belonged to Jay's Bus Service, Staffordsmith said.

Colon, whose breath smelled of alcohol, was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence and endangering the welfare of children, Staffordsmith said, adding that Colon was waiting to be taken to the Ocean County Jail on Wednesday afternoon.

Colon is not employed with the Lakewood Board of Education and transported no public school students, said Michael Inzelbuch, general counsel for the town's Board of Education.

A woman who picked up the phone for Jay's Bus Service hung up without commenting Wednesday evening when asked if Colon is an employee.

Before police stopped and spoke with Colon, Lakewood Officer Daniel Brooks radioed headquarters to report he was "out with two vehicles" involved in a road rage episode in the area of Chestnut Street and Vermont Avenue, Staffordsmith said.

One of the vehicles was Colon's school bus, Staffordsmith said. He did not identify the driver of the second vehicle.

Hatt and another officer, Chrstopher DiBlase, assisted at the scene, Staffordsmith said.

Katie Park: @kathspark; 908-801-4853; kpark@gannettnj.com