WANTAGH, N.Y. -- A Long Island nun is facing drunken driving charges after police say she polished off a half bottle of gin and hit the road for a wild joyride that nearly killed a group of children.
According to prosecutors, Sister Lauren Hanley of the St. Frances de Chantal Church in Wantagh was arrested Tuesday after registering a 0.18 blood-alcohol level on a breathalyzer test - which is more than twice the legal limit of 0.08.
Hanley, 68, was traveling in a 2006 Toyota Corolla when witnesses saw her side-swiping several parked cars, zig-zagging on residential lawns and sending neighborhood children running for their lives, officials said.
Authorities said Hanley started her drinking binge at around 3 p.m. at St. Frances de Chantal where she works as a spiritual director.
It was hours later, when the naughty nun wreaked havoc outside homes on Hawthorne Drive - just a short distance from the church.
Witnesses said they saw Hanley gliding around on two residential lawns before hitting a number of parked cars and crashing into a tree.
Two children who were playing outside of their home were nearly mowed down by the Godsend Boozy Susie.
"She skidded out on the grass, then she came back down at like 55, 60 miles per hour down the street," 11-year-old Alex Stein told PIX News, after nearly being killed by the out-of-control vehicle. "It was very frightening at first, then you realize you can't trust anybody."
Just moments before the liquored up nun trashed up Hawthorne Drive, Alex was playing in the street. It was his grandma who told him to play on the grass instead.
"God works in funny ways," said Alex's grandmother, Mary Lyons. "Something kind of told me he should get out of the street."
Meanwhile, The Sisters of St. Joesph's - the order that Hanley has been a part of for 47 years - said they're thankful no one was hurt.
"Our first response to this accident is one of deep gratitude to God that no one was injured," the sister order said in a statement.
"We will cooperate fully with the investigation and its findings."
Hanley, who suffered no injuries from the crash, was charged with misdemeanor drunken driving. She was arraigned Wednesday and faces a maximum of one year in prison, if convicted.
According to prosecutors, Sister Lauren Hanley of the St. Frances de Chantal Church in Wantagh was arrested Tuesday after registering a 0.18 blood-alcohol level on a breathalyzer test - which is more than twice the legal limit of 0.08.
Hanley, 68, was traveling in a 2006 Toyota Corolla when witnesses saw her side-swiping several parked cars, zig-zagging on residential lawns and sending neighborhood children running for their lives, officials said.
Authorities said Hanley started her drinking binge at around 3 p.m. at St. Frances de Chantal where she works as a spiritual director.
It was hours later, when the naughty nun wreaked havoc outside homes on Hawthorne Drive - just a short distance from the church.
Witnesses said they saw Hanley gliding around on two residential lawns before hitting a number of parked cars and crashing into a tree.
Two children who were playing outside of their home were nearly mowed down by the Godsend Boozy Susie.
"She skidded out on the grass, then she came back down at like 55, 60 miles per hour down the street," 11-year-old Alex Stein told PIX News, after nearly being killed by the out-of-control vehicle. "It was very frightening at first, then you realize you can't trust anybody."
Just moments before the liquored up nun trashed up Hawthorne Drive, Alex was playing in the street. It was his grandma who told him to play on the grass instead.
"God works in funny ways," said Alex's grandmother, Mary Lyons. "Something kind of told me he should get out of the street."
Meanwhile, The Sisters of St. Joesph's - the order that Hanley has been a part of for 47 years - said they're thankful no one was hurt.
"Our first response to this accident is one of deep gratitude to God that no one was injured," the sister order said in a statement.
"We will cooperate fully with the investigation and its findings."
Hanley, who suffered no injuries from the crash, was charged with misdemeanor drunken driving. She was arraigned Wednesday and faces a maximum of one year in prison, if convicted.
