The driver of a semi- truck who was shot and killed by deputies following a pursuit late Sunday night tried to kill deputies several times during the 62-mile pursuit from Apple Valley. The victim, whose identity has not been released yet, was spotted by a witness at 9:39 p.m. Sunday at a home in Apple Valley, which the witness believed was being burglarized. The witness called deputies, who soon located the vehicle. The semi driver refused to yield to a traffic stop and headed toward Highway 247.
When a deputy was putting down spike strips at Highway 18 and Pioneer Road in Apple Valley, the semi-truck driver steered his vehicle toward the deputy, but did not injure him. Deputies attempted a second spike strip at Highway 247 and Linn Road in Landers; this time, the driver shot at the deputies who were outside their patrol unit. A Sheriff’s helicopter tracking the semi witnessed both events and after getting approval from the watch commander, a deputy inside the helicopter fired at the semi after the second attack in an attempt to disable it.
When the semi driver reached Highway 62 in Yucca Valley, he turned west, but for unknown reasons, the driver made a U-turn on the highway at Pinon Drive and started driving eastbound. The semi then rammed a marked patrol car and shot at the deputy inside. The deputy returned fire and the semi drove into a dirt berm on the south side of the highway. More deputies arrived and shot at the suspect, killing him just after 11 p.m.
The deputy whose car was rammed received minor injuries—not from gunfire—but did not require medical attention. Deputies are not looking for any other suspects.
