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Lancaster Officer Shoots & Kills Driver After Being Struck By Vehicle

LANCASTER (CBSDFW.COM) - An officer shot a driver in Lancaster after being struck by the vehicle during a traffic stop, authorities said. The driver was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Police were conducting a traffic stop in the 1500 block of Dewberry Boulevard when they made contact with a driver. But that driver placed their vehicle in reverse and drove towards two officers.

Officials said that the officers were able to move out of the way and ordered the driver to stop. The driver then put the vehicle in drive and headed toward one of the officers. That officer was struck by the vehicle and was dragged.

The officer fired shots at the vehicle, striking the driver.

According to officials, the vehicle attempted to flee the scene when the driver lost control and struck a power pole.

The driver was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The officer who was hit by the suspect vehicle suffered injuries, but is in stable condition. The identities of the officers involved in this incident and the driver have not been released.

People who live near the scene ran outside when they heard the commotion. "I was in my house. I heard what sounded like a crash and a pop," recalled neighbor Tiffany Tijani. "The car was already upside down and it was him and another cop on the scene, but they couldn't get him out of the car. They were able to break the driver's door open to get him."

"I hate that it went down like it did. He could have hurt somebody else," Tijani continued. "It's just sad."

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