Tucson police fired at a truck that rammed several vehicles as it fled from a traffic stop on Tucson’s south side Friday morning.
The driver of the truck suffered life-threatening injuries when his vehicle crashed into several others at South Sixth Avenue and West Ajo Way, police said.
Police said the incident began shortly before noon when officers pulled over a truck in the Walgreens parking lot at South 12th Avenue and Ajo. The truck was sought in connection with a felony investigation, said Sgt. Kimberly Bay, a police spokeswoman.
The suspect struck several vehicles while backing up, Bay said. He rammed one vehicle, which was occupied, and pushed it through the parking lot towards an exit. He continued until the vehicle he rammed struck another vehicle in the parking lot, and it dislodged from the truck.
While this was occurring, officers involved in the traffic stop were following the truck on foot, said Bay. The officers realized the driver continued to pose a threat to people in the area, and at least three officers fired their guns in an attempt to stop the truck, Bay said. Â Â
People are also reading…
A bystander’s video recorded at least a half-dozen gunshots.
The truck continued in reverse and pulled out of the parking lot and headed east down Ajo, where it struck one vehicle at the 12th Avenue intersection.
The truck continued at a high rate of speed with police following. The truck  crashed at Sixth Avenue, Bay said. That crash involved at least nine vehicles — including a police car.
The driver was taken into custody and then to a hospital, where the status of his injuries was changed to life-threatening, Bay said. Late Friday night, he was listed in serious condition.
Several people were taken to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.
The incident forced police to close Ajo at the two intersections for hours.
The investigation involves at least two crime scenes, multiple victims and numerous witnesses. The driver's identity was not released.
Homicide detectives were conducting a criminal investigation, as is standard procedure in all officer-involved shootings. Internal affairs is conducting an administrative investigation to see whether officers followed departmental regulations and procedures.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call 911 or 88-CRIME.Â
