Bus driver in Libertyville crash died of heart attack

A school bus driver died of a heart attack before striking three parked vehicles Tuesday outside Highland Middle School in Libertyville, an autopsy has showed.

Lake County Coroner Howard Cooper on Friday identified the driver as Thomas Lee, 75, of Grayslake.

"The preliminary autopsy results indicate he died from heart attack prior to the low speed crash of the bus he was driving," Cooper said in a release. Toxicology tests are pending and an investigation by the coroner's office and Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team continues, he added.

Lee was driving a bus for Durham School Services that had been chartered by Oak Grove Elementary District 68 for middle school volleyball games played that evening at Highland, 310 W. Rockland Road.

Authorities were called at 5:42 p.m. to the staff parking lot in back of the school. Lee, who was pulling into the lot at the time, was found not breathing. Police started CPR and applied an automated external defibrillator before paramedics arrived and took him to Advocate Condell Medical Center.

According to police, no one else was on the bus and no other injuries were reported. The volleyball games were over at the time of the crash. A game official called 911.