ACTON, Mass. -- An Acton school bus driver claims she was fired after a sexual encounter between two students on the bus.

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Amalia Barreda Reports On Driver

NewsCenter 5's Amalia Barreda reported that bus driver Fran Moniz said she had just picked up two new special needs students at Acton-Boxborough Regional High School last Thursday at the end of the school day.

"Well, the young man said (to a female student), 'Come on over and sit next to me.' And before we started up the van, she went over and sat beside him," said Moniz.

As she drove them home aboard a Case Transportation school bus, Moniz said she was stunned and distressed over what the 15-year-old girl and the older boy were doing.

"I would say a sexual encounter of some kind," said Moniz.

With her bosses gone for the night at the end of her shift, Moniz said she reported the incident the next day. She was given some days off with pay. But then on Monday, she was fired.

"They feel I didn't do enough. I should have stopped the bus, possibly and done something. Told them to stop, whatever," she said.

In a telephone interview, Case Executive Director Edward Orenstein said, "Case is committed to treating its employees in a very fair manner and expects its employees to have a very high standard of care for its students."

Moniz said she is not only distressed about the loss of her job. At the end of the month, she will lose all of her benefits for herself and her husband.

In the meantime, Moniz said she is embarrassed by what happened on the bus, and devastated by how Case has treated her after five years on the job.

"I didn't want to accuse anybody of anything. I didn't want to stop the bus because I was on a very busy street -- School Street is a very busy street. And I just felt I did the right thing by letting my boss know and it's like I got a slap in the face by doing the right thing," said Moniz.

"I feel that I don't want no other driver to go through this, should have to go through this. Absolutely no other driver," said Moniz's husband, John.

"I've met a lot of nice people that really care a lot about me. And it's been devastating," said Moniz.

Moniz said she was questioned by Acton police because the female student is now claiming she was raped. Acton police confirm there is a criminal investigation under way. The Middlesex County District Attorney's office will only say no charges have been filed.

Moniz said she never heard any signs of violence or distress on the bus that day. The female student was the last to get off the bus and never said anything about rape.