A veteran Houston police officer with a blood-alcohol content of .205 — more than twice the legal limit — was driving to work when he collided with a private school bus this month, authorities said.

Ruben Trejo, 46, was charged Monday with driving while intoxicated in connection with an April 13 wreck that sent him to the hospital. The legal limit for intoxication is 0.08.

Trejo collided with a school bus in the 7900 block of Harrisburg while off-duty in his personal vehicle, a Toyota Tundra pickup, about 2:15 p.m., HPD spokesman John Cannon said.

A sergeant on the Eastside patrol division, Trejo was en route to work when he wrecked, Cannon said. There were no children aboard the bus.

The bus driver, who suffered minor injuries, told police Trejo smelled like alcohol and appeared to have been drinking. Photos from the crime scene show wine bottles in the back seat of the truck, according to the charging document.

The officer faces a maximum of six months in jail if convicted of the Class B misdemeanor.

Trejo was put on paid administrative leave Friday pending the outcome of an internal affairs investigation, Cannon said.

The day of the collision, police said the bus ran a stop sign and slammed into Trejo's vehicle, sending the off-duty officer to the hospital. He was released days later. The driver of the bus was cited, police said.

Cannon said Monday that the wreck remains under investigation.

Trejo joined the force in November 1985 and has worked with the Eastside division since 1991.

Phone messages left at Trejo's home were not returned.

Houston Police Officers' Union President Gary Blankinship said Trejo is a member of the union but is not represented by union attorneys.

brian.rogers@chron.com