School Bus, Tractor-Trailer Drivers Killed in Fiery Crash

Norman Bliss of Pennsylvania is driving a tractor-trailer and collides with the rear-end of a school bus, causing a chain reaction crash with two other tractor-trailers.

Sadiah Thompson・Assistant Editor

June 4, 2019

1 min to read

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — A school bus driver and tractor-trailer driver were among those killed in a fiery four-vehicle crash here on Monday, police said.

At around 5 a.m., two tractor-trailers and a school bus were stopped in the center westbound lane of Interstate 84, adjacent to the connecting ramp to Route 2 westbound, when a third trailer, driven by 52-year-old Norman Bliss, approached the stopped vehicles and “took evasive action by braking and steering to the left,” according to a report from Connecticut State Police. Bliss's truck, which was unable to stop in time, rear-ended the school bus, continued into the left lane, jack-knifed, and then subsequently caught fire, which spread to the other vehicles.

Bliss and the driver of the school bus, First Student driver Verlean Douglas, were killed. No students were on board the bus at the time, according to police. As a result of the impact, police say the two other tractor-trailers were also involved in the crash, but that the drivers were not hurt.

The crash still remains under investigation.

View photos of the crash, posted on Twitter by Squad Fire Photos, below.

East Hartford Ct. MVA with fire. I84 west prior to Connecticut River. @ctfirephoto @EastHartfordFD pic.twitter.com/LoMqlc9yIi
— Squad Fire Photos (@SquadFirePhotos) June 3, 2019

Topics:Connecticut school bus crash Safety

More Safety

Safety•June 11, 2026

Pro-Vision Launches AI-Powered 360° Camera System

The new Birdseye camera delivers real-time AI-based pedestrian and vehicle detections, full visibility around the bus, and telematics integrations.

Safety•by Elora Haynes•June 9, 2026

N.Y. & N.J. Coalitions Call for Modernized Transportation for Vulnerable Students

New statewide coalitions in New York and New Jersey are urging lawmakers to expand student transportation options for vulnerable students amid ongoing driver shortages.

Graphic for an opinion article on illegal school bus passing. A school bus with its stop arm extended is stopped as children cross the street, while a black SUV drives past. Headline reads, “America’s School Bus Blind Spot.” School Bus Fleet branding appears in the corner.

Safety•June 8, 2026

America Has a School Bus Passing Problem — and Distraction Is Making It Worse

Illegal school bus passing remains a major safety threat as distracted driving rises. This op-ed explores why awareness, enforcement, and stop-arm cameras matter more than ever.

A black, white, and red graphic with an image of a school bus on a New York street and text reading "Legislative Roundup May 2026."

Safety•by Elora Haynes•May 29, 2026

School Bus Laws to Watch: New York Delays EV Mandate

Plus, federal lawmakers seek new funding for school bus safety as states weigh stop-arm enforcement, disability protections, and education spending.

The Essential Handbook for Safe Alternative Student Transportation

Your district's "exception riders" — students with IEPs, those experiencing homelessness, foster care youth — deserve more than a middleman solution. This handbook breaks down exactly what to look for in a supplemental transportation partner: from driver vetting and regulatory compliance to proactive safety technology. Because getting a ride isn't the same as getting a safe one.