AVON -- Country Club Road in Avon was closed for most of the day Wednesday after a tree fell onto a school bus killing the driver. The intense winds caused the tree to topple, landing on the bus, and causing the crash, said police at the scene.
No students were involved in the incident. The road reopened on Thursday morning.
The driver, Steve Roussel, 52, had been employed by Specialty Transportation of Avon for over a year and was heading to the bus yard after leaving an elementary school.
"It's really windy out here. The trees are blowing really good, and we had warm weather with the ground softening yesterday," Avon Police Lt. John Schmalberger.
"I got texts around 9 o'clock from everyone -- my parents, my sisters, my cousins -- asking if my kids were okay. My thoughts and prayers go out to that family," said a mom who lives right near the crash site.
Soon after the accident, nearly 400 Eversource were without power. Power was restored later in the afternoon.
Michael Turner, the Vice President of Specialty Transportation, issued a statement about the incident:
It is a sad day at Specialty Transportation with the passing of one of our School Bus drivers. 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.