Did you guys see this story? It's wild, like, I actually believe this lady.
First of all, love the community note there. I mean, at least it gives the story some context.
Let's give it a look:
A Long Island school bus driver caught drinking while bringing students home last week will not face charges — because police believe her story that she grabbed a hard seltzer without realizing it was alcoholic.
The 60-year-old driver, Amal Hanna, told News 12 Long Island that she is teetotal because she's undergoing chemotherapy for cancer — which also leaves her unable to taste if drinks are alcoholic.
She said she grabbed a White Claw from the fridge she shares with a roommate in Hauppauge, thinking she was drinking a regular fruit-flavored seltzer while driving kids home from Smithtown High School West on Wednesday.
Seriously, come on, White Claw doesn't even taste like alcohol in the first place, so even without losing her taste I don't think Hanna would've noticed anything besides the fact that White Claw tastes like carbonated soap water. Maybe that would've tipped her off, maybe it wouldn't have.
However, now she's been fired from her job, though police aren't going to charge her since they believe she's being honest with her story.
And it's such a sad story. She told the local news:
She said transporting the children every day was a bright spot in her life.
"I love the kids, I love my company," she said.
"I go in the morning, so happy, see the kids, say ‘Good morning, how are you,' give them a big smile," Hanna said, adding that it "makes my life happy when I see the kids going to school happy."
A parent who spoke to News 12 also described her as "so sweet," saying she was always "kind" to the students.
"I can't imagine she would ever do anything to harm them," the parent said.
"I think it was a very honest mistake."
I seriously feel so bad for this woman. She made one honest mistake and now she's lost that job she loved so much.
But similar to many of these heartbreaking stories these days, we have ourselves a bit of a happy ending via GoFundMe.
From the page raising money for her:
Miss Hanna has been a beloved bus driver for 15 years. The children on her bus said she was is kindest woman who was like a grandma to them. She is undergoing chemotherapy and made an honest mistake that cost her her job. My children were on the bus that day. They knew the circumstances had to be a mistake. Emotionally and financially she needs help. Please take a moment to watch her story and consider helping her to recover in peace.
Nearly $20,000 has been raised so far for Hanna, and that amount will only grow. I say we don't stop until this thing hits six figures.
Anyhow, I gotta go find a Kleenex, because this story just hit me harder than I thought it would.
Man, humans are the best.
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