A Texas state trooper fatally shot the driver of a stolen Fort Worth Fire/EMS ambulance on Thursday morning following a chase down Interstate 35 that ended with multiple rammed civilian vehicles and a multi-hour closure of the highway’s upper deck in Austin, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The incident began at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday when state troopers received notification that a Fort Worth Fire/EMS ambulance had been stolen and was heading southbound on Interstate 35 in Williamson County, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Troopers located the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop, but the driver refused to pull over and began evading law enforcement.
Pursuit and Collisions on Interstate 35
As the stolen emergency vehicle continued south near U.S. 290 in Austin, the driver began intentionally ramming multiple civilian vehicles, according to reporting by CBS Austin. Troopers attempted a PIT maneuver to halt the ambulance, but those efforts failed, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. The vehicle continued ramming cars as it drove onto the upper deck of Interstate 35, according to CBS Austin.
A Texas state trooper then discharged a firearm, striking the driver. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. The identity of the driver had not been released, per CBS Austin.
Investigation and Traffic Impacts
The Austin Police Department announced the initial highway closure shortly before 8 a.m. Thursday, describing it as an “active law enforcement” incident involving the Texas Department of Public Safety. Officials later updated the road closure to span from U.S. 183 into downtown Austin, shutting down the southbound upper deck for hours.
The Texas Rangers responded to the scene to conduct an active investigation into the officer-involved shooting, according to CBS Austin. The Texas Department of Public Safety advised motorists to avoid the area and use alternate routes while the southbound upper deck remained closed during the ongoing inquiry.
Worth a look