A 27-year-old Allentown man died in a crash early Sunday, officials said, after he, allegedly, struck — and injured — two Pa. State Police troopers while running from a traffic stop.
According to police, the incident unfolded at about 12:13 a.m. on Sunday when state troopers attempted to make a traffic stop on a 1999 Ford F-150 in Allentown.
The vehicle failed to initially stop, but, officials said, the driver did stop the truck in the vicinity of 29th and Lehigh streets in Allentown.
When troopers exited their vehicle and attempted to take the driver, a 27-year-old Allentown man — who police did not immediately provide further identifying details on — into custody, the driver struck the officers with his vehicle, police said, before he fled the scene.
The troopers, who were injured in the incident, got back in their vehicle and pursued the driver until the area of South 12th and Vultree streets where, officials said, the driver lost control of the truck and struck a fire hydrant before hitting a utility pole and continuing on to strike the Lehigh Valley Logistics Building along the 1800 block of South 12th Street.
The driver, police said, was ejected from the vehicle in this crash.
Upon arriving at the scene, officials said, the officers rendered aid and the driver was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced shortly after the crash.
Both troopers were also hospitalized overnight due to injuries they suffered during this incident, but police said early Sunday, they had both been treated and released.
An investigation into this incident, officials said, is ongoing.