By Troy Gillard (rdnewsNOW)

Red Deer

Man sentenced for crashing stolen truck into school bus, police chase involving stolen semi

Aug 14, 2019 | 11:12 AM

A Red Deer man will spend four years in prison for a crash involving a school bus, armed robbery, and a police chase involving a stolen semi.

It was around 8 a.m. on January 22 when Blackfalds RCMP responded to a collision between a pickup truck and school bus, followed by armed robbery on Range Road 372 near Airport Drive in Springbrook.

The truck that crashed into the bus, which had seven children on board, was stolen out of Drumheller.

The driver exited the truck after the crash and brandished a handgun at a passerby who’d stopped to offer assistance. The male suspect then fled in that person’s vehicle.

No one was injured during the crash or robbery.

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At around midnight on February 16, Mounties were called about two stolen vehicles involved in a break and enter to a business in Rocky Mountain House.

A break and enter occurred a short time later at a gas station in Bentley involving one of the stolen vehicles. A Bentley resident then told police someone had just tried to steal their vehicle, but was unsuccessful.

The vehicle stolen from Rocky Mountain House travelled to the Kuusamo Industrial Park area where police located the suspect inside an industrial shop. The suspect opened an overhead door and drove a semi-truck and trailer towards officers in an attempt to escape. No one was injured.

A short pursuit ensued as the semi-tractor continued towards Red Deer travelling eastbound in the westbound lane towards oncoming traffic. Police were able to stop the semi using a tire deflation device and arrest the male suspect.

Jason Ionson, 38, was sentenced in Red Deer Provincial Court on Aug. 6 to 48 months behind bars, minus eight months’ credit for time already spent in custody, leaving him with 40 months left to serve.