Joseph Bernardi, transportation director for Somers School District, has been suspended while the district investigates a DWI case from earlier this month involving a bus driver.

William Mendez, 61, was charged with DWI on Dec. 9 after students on the bus called parents to report his alleged erratic driving.

Superintendent Raymond Blanch informed parents through a letter stating, “We are in the process of a detailed review of the Bus P incident, including how it was managed, communicated, and where we could have done better. As part of this review, the district has asked its attorneys to conduct an investigation into the incident, deliverable to the Board of Education, including what occurred leading up to, during and after the incident. Pending the results of this investigation, Transportation Director Joe Bernardi has been placed on administrative leave.”

Blanch said the decision to place Joseph Bernardi on administrative leave was made out of an abundance of caution and assumptions should not be made.

News 12 is told the Somers School District is also investigating an October 2018 bus accident involving Mendez.