The Butler Transit Authority and the company that employed bus driver Adam Fry, 38, of Cabot, who died Friday from COVID-19, said they are saddened by his death.

The BTA and MV Transportation, the Dallas, Texas-based contractor hired by the authority to provide drivers for its buses, issued statements Monday.

“The MV Transportation team is deeply saddened by the death of one of our own team members (last) week. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to the driver's family and friends, including the many colleagues and passengers in the Butler region. MV has been the operations partner for Butler Transit since 2017,” Jeff Womack, chief marketing officer, said in the statement, which does not include Fry's name.

The statement said the company has maintained rigorous COVID-related safety protocols since the early days of the pandemic including providing face masks and hand sanitizer to employees, maintaining social distancing practices, conducting deep cleaning of work spaces and vehicles, and maintaining contact tracing and quarantine protocols.

MV Transportation requires all employees to wear masks throughout their work day, provides riders with masks when they do not have one of their own and has encouraged employees to get vaccinated against COVID, according to the statement.

“The Butler Transit Authority was saddened to learn of the tragic passing of Adam Fry,” according to the authority's statement.

Based upon conversations with MV Transportation, Fry reported to work as scheduled Sept. 17. Several hours later, he began feeling unwell and was immediately removed from service and instructed to seek medical attention. He did not return to work after that day, according to the statement.

Staff and riders are regularly told that face masks are mandatory on all BTA buses, and masks and hand sanitizer are provided for passengers on each bus, according to the statement.

Fry died two days after the authority suspended all local bus service due to driver illness. Two routes returned to service Tuesday.