BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- A man led police on a chase through several communities during rush hour traffic Thursday.

According to witnesses, a white van weaved all over the road, smashing into several cars and construction barrels near Woodward Avenue and Square Lake Road in Bloomfield Township.

A road worker attempted to approach the driver, who police later identified as 61-year-old Jesus Gillard, when he temporarily stopped at the Marathon gas station, at which time Gillard allegedly assaulted the man and drove off.

Surveillance video at the gas station shows Gillard pulling up to the gas station with construction barrels stuck underneath his van. The video also shows Gillard pulling out the barrels from his vehicle, punching the road worker and driving away.

Kevin Outland was on his way home from work and saw the van.

"I came up to 16 and Woodward, and this van, big old white van came flying out of nowhere, cut me off and went flying down 16 Mile," Outland said. "No sooner than I thought that, all these cop cars came with their lights on.

The driver of the van refused to stop and struck several patrol cars with his vehicle.

Officers continued to pursue the van southbound on Woodward Avenue to the area of Big Beaver Road where Troy police followed suit, according to Bloomfield Township Chief Kirt Bowden.

A short time later, the driver of the van drove through the intersection at Big Beaver and Adams roads and crashed into a black sport utility vehicle.

"When I got to 16 and Adams, I saw the white van crashed into the other car, It was just pandemonium," said Outland.

The driver of that vehicle was not injured.

Police said the driver of the white van got out and started throwing punches at police.

Police shocked him with a Taser.

"Finally, we were able to arrest him," said Bowden.

The driver became unresponsive and was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Two Bloomfield Township officers suffered minor injuries.

Police said they believe the man was high on drugs but the gas station owner said Gillard acted normal.

"He wanted gas. He was really in a hurry, really frustrated," said Mark Sarraf, the owner of the Marathon gas station.

The Oakland County Sheriff's Department is investigating the case.

An autopsy has been done on the victim. A toxicology report is expected to come out in several weeks

A vigil was held Sunday at Gillard's home on Harmon Street in Detroit in his memory.