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Two troopers pulled over two SUVs, one black and one white, around 11:35 p.m. near mile maker 273.2 east in Elizabeth Township, Trooper Kevin Kochka said.
One SUV pulled over onto the shoulder and the other one directly behind the trooper's vehicle in the right lane of travel.
At that time, one trooper approached the black SUV, which was stopped directly behind their patrol vehicle and the other trooper approached the white SUV.
As the trooper requested the driver’s license and reached into the black SUV to turn the ignition off, the driver immediately started the car again and placed it in drive. The driver disobeyed commands to place the vehicle into park and drove forward striking the trooper.
The black SUV then entered the left lane of travel and accelerated away from the scene at a high rate of speed. Simultaneously, the white SUV sped away from the scene at a high rate of speed in front of the black SUV. That's when troopers discharged their Department Issued pistols, Kochka said.
Troopers got into their cars and tried to pursue the fleeing vehicles, however, they were unable to locate them. The struck trooper was transported to a local hospital to be evaluated for injuries sustained.
The white SUV is possibly a Dodge Durango with unknown Massachusetts registration and has a bike rack. There was no further information on the black SUV at this time.
The Troop J, Lancaster Criminal Investigations Unit continues to investigate this incident. Anyone who has information about either of the vehicles involved or information regarding this incident is asked to contact PSP-Lancaster, 717-299-7650.
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