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DORTON, Ky. (AP) — The driver of a vehicle fleeing from authorities and heading toward a separate fatal crash scene was shot to death by troopers Tuesday morning, Kentucky State Police said.
State police were at the scene of a fatal crash in eastern Kentucky, near the Virginia border, when they were notified of a fleeing vehicle heading in their direction, authorities told news outlets.
Troopers at the scene of the crash on state Route 805 left to pursue the vehicle “in an attempt to protect the scene of the crash,” state police said in a news release.
Trooper William Petry said the 16-mile (26-kilometer) chase ended yards away from the fatal crash. He said the driver was heading straight toward multiple first responders. Troopers fired at the driver, who was later pronounced dead at the scene, the release said.
"A vehicle is basically a deadly weapon if it's used that way and if it had got to the scene of the fatal crash, more than one person would have been in danger," said Petry.
The driver's name wasn't immediately released. No one else was in the vehicle at the time, police said. The shooting happened between Jenkins and Dorton, about 115 miles (185 kilometers) southeast of Lexington.
Authorities did not release details about the fatal crash that had preceded the shooting.
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