Long Island police said they would not charge a school bus driver fired last week for driving students while drinking an alcohol seltzer beverage.
The driver, Amal Hanna, told News 12 she took the drink from the refrigerator she shares with her roommate, not realizing that White Claw contained alcohol.
Evidently police believe Hanna, who has been a bus driver for 15 years. She was fired Wednesday after reportedly drinking with students from Smithtown High School West on the bus. School district leaders confirmed her firing.
"Once aware, the district intervened immediately and bus company staff met the bus and driver at Great Hollow Middle School prior to dismissal," Superintendent Mark Secaur said in a district email last week.
Get Philly local news, weather forecasts, sports and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC Philadelphia newsletters.
Hanna, 60, is reportedly undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer and says it affected her sense of taste. She now fears ending up living on the street after losing her job.
“I have been crying and crying, I don't even have any more tears. It was just a mistake, it was a mistake,” Hanna told News 12.
News 4 has not been able to contact the Smithtown School District or bus company for comment due to the Columbus Day holiday.
