SOUTH HOLLAND, Ill. — A disgruntled school bus driver who had been ordered not to drive proceeded to hijack his bus and crash into several cars while being chased by police, who ultimately shot and killed him.

Authorities said that the driver, Ronald Newsome, had been threatening other employees at the bus yard on the morning of May 29. His supervisor told him that he would not be allowed to drive, and police were called.

Then Newsome went to his bus, which transports special-needs students but only had a monitor on board at the time, and began driving aggressively, reportedly trying to hit other employees.

Newsome was chased by police for several miles, striking squad cars and civilian vehicles along the way.

A spokesperson for the bus company, First Student, told the Southtown Star that parents with children on Newsome’s route were called and informed not to put their children on the bus.

Police eventually surrounded the bus, but Newsome allegedly accelerated toward them, and an officer fatally shot him. The bus monitor was not injured.

Company officials said that Newsome had passed thorough background checks before being hired in March, and police said they believed that he did not have a criminal history.

Some witnesses reported that Newsome had a gun and had fired it at officers, but South Holland Police Chief Warren Millsaps in a news conference declined to comment on that aspect of the incident.

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