Ash Fork, AZ – Today, Arizona State troopers responded to calls from concerned citizens who reported a tractor trailer was driving at 90 MPH and passing vehicles recklessly on the shoulder. Troopers located and pursued the vehicle for close to 100 miles from Kingman to Ash Fork on Interstate 40 finally spiking the tractor and getting it stopped.
At about 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 15th, Arizona Department of Public Safety (ADPS) was advised of a red commercial vehicle driving recklessly westbound on Interstate 40 approaching the California state line. The tractor and trailer were observed entering California and exiting the freeway. Callers again contacted ADPS to advise the commercial vehicle had re-entered Arizona eastbound toward Kingman.
Troopers engaged the vehicle in an attempt to stop the driver but a pursuit ensued after the driver refused to stop and continued to drive recklessly. For close to 100 miles troopers and deputies from Yavapai and Mohave Counties tried to stop the commercial vehicle with Stop Sticks (a tire deflation device). Finally, near Ash Fork the vehicle was successfully spiked and stopped. The driver abandoned the tractor and trailer and fled on foot. The driver was pursued by troopers and a ADPS canine. During the foot pursuit the driver stopped and engaged troopers with an item he simulated as a weapon (his cell phone). One trooper fired approximately four times missing the suspect. The ADPS canine was also deployed and successfully apprehended the suspect.
The suspect, a male in his late thirties yet to be positively identified, was transported for non-life threatening injuries to Flagstaff for medical treatment related to the canine bite. Drug intoxication and possible “suicide by cop” are factors being investigated by state detectives.