Trucker Shot By Police During Pursuit Hits 12 Cars, Kills Man
A truck driver is being held on a two million dollar bond following a police pursuit that killed one motorist and injured two others.
Off Duty Cop Begins Pursuit After Hit And Run
The pursuit began in Elizabeth, New Jersey, on Friday night around midnight. Police say that 57 year old truck driver Danny Clyde Burnam was driving erratically and struck a vehicle near 1st Street and Elizabeth Avenue.
When an off duty police officer attempted to pull Burnam over, he refused to stop. The officer shot one round off to try to stop the truck, but was unsuccessful.
From there, Burnam reportedly headed north, speeding and striking several parked and moving vehicles.
Semi Barrels Through Barricade
Law enforcement officers set up a barricade at North Broad Street and Parker Road, but Burnam drove through it as several officers fired shots at his truck. He was hit in the leg, but kept driving.
About a half mile north of the barricade, Burnam hit a car turning into a parking lot head on, killing a male passenger and injuring two others in the vehicle.
Burnam was then arrested and transported to the hospital for non life threatening injuries.
It is unclear whether drugs or alcohol were a factor in the incident.
Trucker Faces Serious Charges
Burnam is facing charges of second-degree aggravated manslaughter, second-degree vehicular homicide and second-degree aggravated assault. A judge set his bail at $2 million.
The incident remains under investigation. Authorities are also investigating whether the officers involved were justified in firing a weapon during the pursuit.
Truck driver charged in crash that killed 1, injured 2: Authorities say Danny Clyde Burnam barreled through a… https://t.co/aFyM9PmJUs
— Lanka Thilina (@lankathilina) July 9, 2016
Sources:
NJ.com
News 12 New Jersey
NBC New York
ABC 7 NY