License plate left behind leads to arrest of driver in bus wreck

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Special needs students were taken to a hospital after their bus rolled over into a ditch on the way to school. The alleged hit-and-run driver, Leobardo ALvarez, was arrested within 20 minutes after the accident.

Authorities say Alvarez ran a red light and struck an Aldine ISD school bus with four special needs students, a staff member and a female bus driver on board, causing the bus to flip over into a ditch. The accident happened at 8:30am Friday along Veterans Memorial near Frick. The students, from Wilson Intermediate School, were not seriously hurt. They were taken to Houston Northwest Medical Center Hospital to be checked out as a precaution. The bus driver suffered a broken arm.

Abbey Lee with the Harris County Emergency Corps said, "This is a tragic accident you don't ever want to see these things like this happen ever. But the good thing is we have medics that are responding and here and they've already transfer them to the hospital."

Alvarez was allegedly driving a Dodge pickup that ran a red light and fled the scene but truck's license plate was left behind. Alvarez has been charged with failure to stop and render aid in an accident involving injury.

Alvarez was released on a $5,000 bond Friday and is due back in court on Monday.