Pennsylvania state trooper shot after pursuit leads to fiery crash in Philadelphia
CENTER CITY -- A Pennsylvania state trooper has been hospitalized after being shot in an altercation on I-676 in Center City Philadelphia.
The incident around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday on eastbound I-676 in the area of 22nd Street.
According to police, a Pennsylvania state trooper had stopped a car on I-76. There were four males inside the vehicle, two of whom were escorted out of the vehicle by police, patted down and sitting on the curb outside the car when the driver suddenly took off.
The vehicle, with the two remaining suspects inside, turned onto I-676 eastbound where it slammed into the rear of a school bus on the highway.
The suspects got out and attempted to flee the scene on foot. During their escape attempt there was an exchange of gunfire with police, at which time a trooper sustained a gunshot wound to his shoulder.
The trooper was rushed to Hahnemann University Hospital and is currently in stable condition.
All four suspects are now in police custody, including the alleged shooter.
The suspects' vehicle then caught fire, and the flames spread onto the bus, soon consuming both vehicles.
Luckily, there were no students on board the bus at the time of the crash, and the bus driver was reportedly uninjured.
Upon word of the state trooper's injuries, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf released the following statement:
"My thoughts and prayers are with the Pennsylvania State Police Trooper shot on Interstate 676 in the line of duty today. I received an update from Acting Commissioner Blocker a short time ago and I am relieved to learn that the trooper is in stable condition at a hospital in Philadelphia. Our men and women in law enforcement put their lives on the line each day to protect us, and we owe them a debt of gratitude. The shooter was swiftly taken into custody by the Pennsylvania State Police. No further details are available at this time."
I-676 eastbound is shutdown approaching the accident scene.
Stay with Action News and 6abc.com as more information becomes available.
