Bus Driver Dies As School Bus Crashes In Avon, Victim ID Released: UPDATE

AVON, CT — A bus driver died after a large tree branch tree fell on a school bus in Avon Wednesday morning, police said. The driver has been identified as Steve Roussel, 52, of Unionville, according to authorities.

Police would only say that it was the sole injury in the crash and that the driver was a male. Police would not speculate that high winds caused the tree to fall. The crash took place at 8:50 a.m., and the bus hit a pole after the tree branch landed on it, police said.

A section of Country Club Road in Avon was closed off on Wednesday morning near Tamara Circle after a school bus was involved in the crash, police said.

No children were on the bus, education officials said. Counseling was made available for those affected.

At 9:15 a.m., police said the road was closed off in both directions between Old Farms and West Avon right after the crash. Investigators were at the scene Wednesday morning.

A total of 376 outages resulted from the crash, according to Eversource.

School officials said school buses are operated by Specialty Transportation. Specialty Transportation 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."

Police are asking any witnesses to call 860-409-2000.

Patch file photo