A man was fatally shot in an officer-involved shooting Friday night, after fleeing from officers and striking one with his car, authorities said.
Shortly before 11 p.m., Maricopa County deputies responded to San Tan Valley, to reports of a hit-and-run, and saw the suspect vehicle leaving the scene, said Pinal County Sheriff's Office spokesman, Deputy Chief Tim Gaffney.
Deputies pursued the vehicle after the driver failed to stop, weaving heavily and driving on the rim, Gaffney said.
In an effort to evade deputies, the vehicle began driving in circles in a dirt lot, before driving head-on into a Pinal County Sheriff's marked vehicle, according to Gaffney.
The sergeant in the vehicle sustained minor injuries, and exited the car. Fearing for their lives, the sergeant and two other supervisors fired upon the vehicle when the driver began speeding directly towards them, Gaffney said.
When the vehicle came to a stop in a nearby dirt lot, deputies gave verbal commands for the driver to exit the vehicle, firing non-lethal beanbag rounds at the car. When they approached the vehicle, they saw that the driver was dead.
Detectives are processing the scene and interviewing witnesses. The investigation is ongoing.
