A Long Island school bus driver has been fired and reported to police after being photographed boozing while taking home high school students Wednesday, officials said.
The unidentified driver was seen “drinking an alcoholic beverage” while taking home students from High School West, Smithtown School District Superintendent Mark Secaur told parents in an email.
“Once aware, the district intervened immediately and bus company staff met the bus driver at Great Hollow Middle School prior to dismissal,” Secaur said.
“It was confirmed that an alcoholic beverage was on board, and the driver was promptly taken from the bus, and a different driver completed the route,” he wrote.
Secaur said that there is “zero tolerance for this behavior,” which was reported to Suffolk County cops.
Police confirmed to Newsday that an investigation has been launched, although so far there have been no charges. No students were injured.
“Regardless of the outcome of the investigation, that driver will no longer transport any Smithtown student,” Secaur said.
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“Our students’ safety is of the utmost importance to the Smithtown Central School District and we will remain steadfast in our efforts to create a safe environment for all our students.”
The driver was quickly fired by WE Transport, the Long Island-based school bus company that employed them, a spokesperson confirmed to The Post.
“This alleged conduct is completely unacceptable and the driver has been immediately removed from service,” the spokesperson said.
“We are cooperating with the school and law enforcement as this matter is thoroughly investigated.”
The incident comes just two weeks after a bus carrying 40 high school band members from another Long Island school district overturned in upstate New York.
Two teachers were killed and five students were left in critical condition.
