Per NBC News, a school bus driver in Illinois has been arrested after she was reportedly spotted drinking beer while picking up elementary school children.

44-year-old Michelle Passley was charged on Monday with two counts of endangering the life and health of a child after she was caught on video drinking two beers as she drove 32 children to school on the 15th November,  according to police in Aurora.

While no students were harmed, Aurora Police Chief Kristen Ziman stated during a news conference that "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."

Ziman went onto say that authorities are not clear whether Passley was intoxicated while driving because police were not alerted until after her shift had ended.

Watch a news report of the incident below: 

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An "observant" convenience store staff member purportedly called East Aurora School District 131 to notify them that a woman had come in, bought two beers, and then got into the driver's seat of a school bus.

32 children in total were seen on the bus while Passley drank from two cans of beer, according to law enforcement.
Administrators for East Aurora School District 131 quickly contacted First Student Bus company, who have since issued a statement asserting that "There is nothing more important than the safety of the students we transport."

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Aurora Police]]

"We understand and share in the concern this incident has caused. We are incredibly disappointed by our former driver’s actions. First Student has a zero-tolerance policy for employees whose actions may put others at risk," the statement continued, detailing that they are cooperating with the police investigation.

Passley has since been fired, and the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office is now reviewing her commercial driver’s license.

She has been released on a $100 bond, and is purportedly due in court on the 27th of December.

A heartbroken family has made a huge accusation after a mom-of-three died two years after drinking a margarita which contained cleaning products.

Holly Hill, a 30-year-old third-grade teacher from Elgin, Oklahoma, tragically passed away on October 23, 2025.

Her death comes two years after she drank an alcoholic drink contaminated with industrial cleaner at the Hacienda Las Margaritas Bar & Grill on Valentine’s Day in 2023.

A woman died two years after drinking a margarita contaminated with cleaning products at a restaurant. Credit: mitchellpictures / Getty

The Horrifying Incident

On that fateful day in 2023, Hill took a sip of a margarita at the restaurant, only to immediately experience an intense burning sensation in her mouth.

“Her mouth was on fire, and she knew something wasn’t right,” Hill’s mother, Kelly Hunter, recalled, per News9. “She immediately jumped up and ran to the bathroom, started throwing up, started rinsing her mouth out with water.”

The mom later discovered that the drink she had consumed contained industrial cleaner, which caused severe chemical burns to her esophagus.

The damage was extensive, and Hill spent the next several months undergoing numerous medical procedures while continuing to work as a teacher and care for her family.

Holly Hill leaves behind a husband and three kids. Credit: Facebook

Family's Accusation: Seeking Justice

Two years after the incident, Hill’s family is holding the restaurant responsible for her death. “We want them to be held accountable for taking my daughter’s life; because they did,” they said. “It might have been a long fight, but ultimately, they are the cause," KFox14 reported.

Her loved ones had previously filed a lawsuit against Hacienda Las Margaritas, which was settled earlier this year, but the pain of Hill's death lingers as they continue to seek justice.

Medical Struggles and Complications

After the incident, Hill’s health remained a constant concern. She underwent several medical procedures, and while her condition showed slight improvement in October 2025, her recovery was far from complete.

“For the past two and a half years, while continuing to teach and care for her family, Holly faced a long and difficult medical journey,” her obituary stated. "Through fighting to survive countless procedures, hospital stays, and uncertain days, she met each challenge with courage, faith, and a quiet strength that inspired everyone around her. Her perseverance and love were nothing short of remarkable."

Just days before her death, doctors had observed that Hill's esophagus had shown signs of healing, but unfortunately, severe complications led to her passing on October 23.

Following Hill’s passing, an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident was initiated by the Elgin Police Department in collaboration with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI).

“The OSBI will initiate an initial inquiry into this matter and will be assisted by the Elgin Police Department,” said Acting Police Chief Ralph Parsons. “The OSBI will be the lead agency in this matter.”

The restaurant has not publicly commented on the investigation, but it did issue an apology in 2023, acknowledging the incident and expressing regret.

“We are very sorry for what happened … during these 10 years we have never had a situation like this, a situation that should not have occurred in the first place," they reportedly wrote, per The Sun.

Hill had many surgeries as the laced cocktail left a hole in her esophagus. Credit: Facebook/Holly Hill

As the family grapples with their loss, they are determined to ensure that the restaurant is held accountable for the actions that led to Holly’s death.

“We want people to be aware of what happened at that restaurant and to quit supporting them,” Hill's mom said.

Elgin Public Schools Superintendent Nate Meraz described the loss as “unimaginable," adding: “Holly was a dedicated teacher, Elgin Alumni, and beloved mother and wife."

Hill leaves behind her husband and three children. As the investigation continues, our thoughts remain with her loved ones during this painful time.

Featured image credit: Google Maps

A 12-year-old boy was rushed to hospital following a family outing at an Outback Steakhouse in Michigan.

As reported by PEOPLE, young Mekyle Cureton started to feel unexpected symptoms when his typical virgin strawberry daiquiri order took a questionable turn. "It didn't taste normal," he shared with Fox affiliate WJBK, noting that his "heart started beating as I was drinking it."

The family revealed that they often visit the Livonia-based establishment a couple of times a month

With his family not accustomed to drinking alcoholic beverages, they were left unsure about the contents of the beverage.

The family says they visit the restaurant a couple of times every month. Credit: Scott Olson / Getty

"We don't drink, so we couldn't tell whether there was alcohol in it or not," the boy's grandmother said. "After that, he started letting us know that his heart was kind of racing."

Quick to address the issue, they alerted their server, who promptly confirmed their suspicions: there had been a mix-up.

While Outback Steakhouse extended apologies and comped the meal, the incident took a more serious turn as young Mekyle found himself in the hospital after the booze started to take effect. Diagnosed with accidental alcohol exposure and ingestion, the ordeal left him feeling worse for wear, even experiencing his first hangover the following day.

The alcohol quickly started to affect the boy. Credit: Fox2

The youngster was provided with Tylenol and ordered to rest.

His grandmother admitted: "I didn't want him to have to have an alcoholic experience this way."

"We take this situation very seriously and are thankful that the child involved was not seriously harmed," expressed an Outback Steakhouse spokesperson in a statement obtained by PEOPLE.

The drink was supposed to contain no alcohol. Credit: bfk92 / Getty

In the aftermath, the restaurant chain has taken swift action, implementing retraining measures for all staff to prevent such mishaps in the future.

Featured image credit: Scott Olson / Getty

As much as kids might like to believe they're invincible, they're actually one of the most vulnerable groups in society. On top of being susceptible to the occasional grazed knee or runny nose, children can also be hurt by the actions of those around them - especially if they're not given the care they deserve. For that reason, most little ones are looked after by their parents (or, failing that, a guardian of some sort) in order to keep them safe from harm. Unfortunately, we still hear stories every day about children suffering violence at the hands of relatives, or severe neglect from those who were supposed to care for them. This was exactly the case with Kaylene Bowen, a mother from Dallas, Texas, who was recently arrested on felony injury charges after it transpired that she had been abusing her son for his entire life. Over the course of eight years, Kayleen convinced doctors that her son, Christopher, was critically ill and needed urgent medical care. She claimed that he had a severe milk allergy, that he needed organ transplants, and, most worryingly, told people that the boy had terminal cancer. In reality, though, Christopher was perfectly healthy. However, this did not stop Kayleen from taking the boy to more than 300 hospital visits since his birth and subjecting him to 13 major surgeries - some of which could have killed him. Two years ago, medical professionals who met with Kayleen and Christopher began to get suspicious about the frequency at which the boy was falling ill, and contacted child protective services in order to investigate the matter. Now, after a legal case against Kayleen, Christopher's father has revealed the lies that the 34-year-old mother told over the years.

"She started explaining to the judge that the doctors stated my son would never walk," said Ryan Crawford, Ben's father. "And then she stated that he had problems continuing to eat and that he's going to need a feeding tube."

Kayleen had previously claimed that Christopher would vomit any time he consumed milk, and that he needed a lung transplant because of the severe side effects. According to Ryan, the issues started just eight days after Christopher was born. "The issues escalated to eventually [claiming] that my son was dying," he said. "I was horrified because from what I knew, my son was fine. He just needed - not even extra care - he was fine." Tragically, Ryan partly blames himself for the suffering Christopher has had to endure, as he separated from Kayleen some years ago, and was not around to intervene in her treatment of the young child. Fortunately for him, Christopher survived the ordeal, and is now in his father's care. However, though it has now become clear that Christopher doesn't have any medical problems, Kayleen's own health has been called into question. It is believed that she may suffer from a condition called Munchhausen by Proxy - an illness which prompts individuals to cause harm to others in order to seek attention and care from medical professionals. Victims of Munchhausen by Proxy are most often children, as they do not have the capacity to explain their symptoms (or lack thereof) themselves. And, unsurprisingly, those who inflict harm are most commonly parents or caregivers, as they have access to vulnerable subjects. Kayleen showed all the trademark symptoms of the condition, and the crowdfunding pages she set up for Christopher's 'illnesses' showed just how far she was willing to go in order to get attention. She has been charged with inflicting injury on a child.

A Colorado couple has been accused of killing their 11-year-old son after forcing him to drink large amounts of water.

The couple, from Colorado Springs, are now facing several charges including child abuse and first-degree murder.

The Colorado Springs Gazette reported that 41-year-old Ryan Sabin and 42-year-old Tara Sabin handed themselves over to authorities on Tuesday and are currently being held without bail.

Watch a news report on the incident below:

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Zachary Sabin died in Black Forest on March 11, prosecutors said according to Fox News, after the couple made him drink copious amounts of water because his urine was dark.

His parents told him to drink four 24-ounce (0.7 liters) bottles of water over four hours without eating, causing the county coroner's office to conclude that he died from forced water intoxication.

According to an arrest affidavit, Tara Sabin informed authorities that because of a hereditary urological problem, her son wore a diaper at night.

Ryan Sabin, Zachary's father and a sergeant based at Fort Carson, called 111 after discovering the 11-year-old unresponsive in bed and foaming at the mouth.

[[imagecaption|| Credit: El Paso County Sheriff's Department]]

The arrest affidavit states that Zachary suffered physical abuse as did another five children.

Online booking documents do not provide any confirmation that the couple has hired an attorney who can speak on their behalf.

The Colorado Department of Human Services had received a report about the child's health prior to his death, according to the agency's website. However, the agency did not reveal its response, and a spokeswoman declined to comment on this information to The Colorado Springs Gazette.

A warrant for the pair's arrest was issued on Tuesday before they handed themselves in, and information about the case was not released until then because it sometimes "takes us months to finish an investigation to determine if criminal charges need to be filed."