‘Minor’ school bus accident in Blue Hill after basketball congestion

This story, originally published Jan. 16, 2026, has been updated with information from the police report.

Jan. 19, 2026

By staff

Blue Hill school officials said there was a “minor” accident involving a bus that occurred on Jan. 15 during a time of heavy traffic congestion.

In an email to parents, Dan Ormsby, principal of Blue Hill Consolidated School, said the accident occurred just after 8 p.m. The accident happened as Blue Hill Consolidated School basketball teams were returning from games, and as a nearby game between George Stevens Academy and Bucksport High School was letting out.

“[A]s our basketball teams were returning to Blue Hill Consolidated School, the bus was turning right onto Union Street from High Street. At the same time, an event at George Stevens Academy was letting out, which resulted in heavy traffic congestion in the area.

“A vehicle was parked along the grass side of the road near GSA, and a door on that vehicle was open. As the bus rounded the corner, the open door and the bus made contact, resulting in minor damage to both the bus and the vehicle,” Ormsby said.

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office later released a report saying that the vehicle that was struck was a 2022 GMC Terrain that was “illegally parked” on High Street.

Police said a juvenile had opened a door into the roadway to buckle a child into a car seat when the bus, driven by Stephen Alley, made a right turn onto High Street from Union Street. The bus collided with the opened door of the parked car, “pinning the juvenile into the vehicle,” the report said.

“The juvenile was evaluated by EMS and was not transported to the hospital, no one else was injured as a result of the crash, and both vehicles were driven from the scene,” the report said. The bus was carrying several school children at the time.

Ormsby said “all students and staff were safe, and no injuries were reported.” He added that “as a standard precaution” the bus driver has been placed on administrative leave while the incident is reviewed.