EXT. HIGHWAY. Overcast Day.
HUGSHYHERMIT drives in CAR. RADIO is on, tuned to BBC WORLD NEWS.

ANNOUNCER (female, high British accent): On Wednesday night, Hurricane Isabel struck the United States off the shores of North Carolina and moved along the coast north toward the nation's capitol. Governors of six southeastern states declared states of emergency and urged its residents to evacuate. Even President Bush was moved to the presidential retreat at Camp David. Schools and corporate offices remained closed on Thursday as utilities worked to restore power to approximately six million residents.

H (from his P.O.V.) -- the HIGHWAY is sparsely populated with CARS and TRUCKS. H checks rearview MIRROR - same.

ANNOUNCER - cont.: Many heeded the advice to evacuate to higher ground, leaving coastal communities virtually empty. Some who remained were reporters covering the storm for outside news services.

* (sound of crashing waves and wind) AMERICAN ANNOUNCER (broad midwest accent, panic in voice): The wind here is very strong. The waves are crashing around me. It's... difficult to stand. Oh!*

H (from his P.O.V. - cont.) concentrates on road, then:

We see a quick yellow flash in side-view MIRROR. Suddenly, SCHOOLBUS appears, filled with CHILDREN. CLOSE IN on banner sign 'DAYTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS'. BUS careens towards CAR, out of control. Screeching of brakes.

* KABUM! *, the AIRBAG inflates. Screen goes blank.