School bus driver charged after ‘drinking beer on route’

CCTV footage shows 30 students were on bus

Passley was charged with a misdemeanour endangering the life and health of a child (Aurora Illinois Police Department)

A 44-year-old bus driver in suburban Chicago has been arrested after authorities say she drank beer while taking more than 30 nursery students to school.

Michelle Passley of North Aurora was charged with a misdemeanour endangering the life and health of a child on Monday.

Aurora police say bus video appears to show the driver drinking from a brown paper bag along a morning route about 40 miles west of Chicago.

The bus company told police that a store clerk called the school district after selling beer to a woman who drove off in a school bus.

The company says it then reviewed bus camera footage.

Ms Passley has been fired from her job following the charge.

Police say she was arrested Monday and faces a 27 December court hearing.

Ms Passley's home telephone number was not listed Tuesday night.

Associated Press