A 60-year-old Long Island school bus driver says she unintentionally consumed an alcoholic beverage while driving students home from Smithtown High School West.
Amal Hanna - who had been faithfully driving students for 15 years - found herself in the middle of a media storm after she was fired for drinking on the job.
But in a heartfelt interview with News 12 Long Island, the devastated driver revealed that due to her ongoing chemotherapy for cancer, she has lost her ability to taste whether or not drinks are alcoholic. She says she mistakenly believed she was sipping a regular fruit-flavored seltzer, not a White Claw hard seltzer.
Hanna also says that chemotherapy has also influenced her teetotal lifestyle.
"I have been crying and crying, I don't even have any more tears. It was just a mistake, it was a mistake," an emotional Hanna said, fearing the repercussions not just for her reputation but also for her livelihood amid her cancer treatments.
The chemotherapy has not only robbed Hanna of her sense of taste but now, following the incident, her means of financial support. She further pointed out the barely noticeable warning on the White Claw can, emphasizing the ease with which the mistake happened, saying: "For people like me that don’t drink — how are they going to know this is alcohol?"
Despite Hanna's sincere explanations, she was swiftly terminated from her role at WE Transport Inc - a Long Island-based school bus company. A company spokesperson affirmed to The New York Post: "This alleged conduct is completely unacceptable and the driver has been immediately removed from service."
But there's a silver lining: Suffolk County Police Department, after investigations, found Hanna's story credible and opted not to press charges against her.
However, the loss of her job has left Hanna in dire straits. She said through tears: "I’m frightened I’m going to be on the street because of a mistake."
Beyond the financial implications, Hanna expressed her genuine affection for the students she transported daily, calling it the "bright spot" in her life. She reflected: "I go in the morning, so happy, see the kids, say ‘Good morning, how are you,’ give them a big smile."
The community seems divided. While some parents stand by the school district's decision, one parent described Hanna to News 12 as "so sweet" and "kind" to the students, emphasizing: "I can’t imagine she would ever do anything to harm them."
Mark Secaur, Smithtown Central School District Superintendent, was firm in his stance. While Hanna was "promptly taken from the bus," Secaur reiterated the district’s "zero tolerance for this behavior."
He further assured parents of the district’s unwavering commitment to student safety.
