A bus driver in Aurora, Illinois, is accused of drinking at least two beers with as many as 32 elementary school students on board.
Michelle Passley, 44, was caught on video by her employer, First Student Bus Company. The video was later released to Aurora police. The video shows her stopping at a gas station to purchase two beers. Near the end of the video, Passley can be seen drinking the beers from a brown bag.
On Nov. 15, before starting her route, Passley drove the bus to a gas station to purchase at two beers. A concerned gas station attendant called the School District 131 after watching her drive away in a school bus.
According to The Chicago Sun Times, the bus company reviewed the video and fired Passley before contacting police. Police later determined that she completed one route before stopping at the gas station for the beers.
"When we put our children on the school bus in the morning, the idea is that we have placed our kids in the safekeeping of someone is going to take good care of them. It's infuriating to believe that someone who is trusted with these children on a daily basis could potentially put them in this kind of danger," Aurora Police Department Chief Kristen Ziman told ABC News.
According to WGN, Passley was charged with two Class A misdemeanors for endangering the life and health of a child. Her commercial driver's license will also be reviewed.
She's scheduled to appear in court Dec. 27.
Because police were not immediately notified, it's not known if she was intoxicated when driving.
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