Cause of Death Released for Avon Bus Driver

AVON, CT — The driver of the school bus killed hit by a fallen tree on Wednesday died from blunt force trauma, according to the office of the chief medical examiner.

The accident took place on Country Club Road at 8:50 a.m. Wednesday. A school bus, empty except for the driver, identified as Steve Roussel, 52, of Unionville, was headed back to the Specialty Transportation depot when a tree fell, police said.

A large section of the tree hit the bus, the bus crashed into a pole and Roussel was killed, according to a police report. Part of Country Club Road was closed for about a day from Wednesday to Thursday and then closed again back again briefly on Friday, police said.

The bus was operated by Specialty Transportation.

Bus company vice president Michael Turner issued a statement about the crash.

"It is a sad day at Specialty Transportation with the passing of one of our school bus drivers," he said. "We ask that your thoughts and prayers are with the driver’s family during this difficult time. The driver was part of our corporate family and was an exceptional employee whom was well respected both by the company and the entire community he served. I’d like to thank the town of Avon’s Board of Education for coordinating grief counseling for our employees that have been adversely affected by this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, our employees and the students and teachers of Avon that have tragically lost an exceptional individual."

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