MULTI-COUNTY PURSUIT ENDS IN SELF-INFLICTED DEATH OF DRIVER

  

A tense standoff after a multi-county pursuit has ended with the self-inflicted death of the driver on I-10.  Fayette County Sheriff Keith Korenek reports on Thursday morning the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office was notified by the Colorado County Sheriff’s Office at 4:15 am of a vehicle pursuit traveling westbound towards Fayette County and that the pursuit started in Harris County. The driver of the vehicle reportedly had fired several shots at Harris County Constables in the pursuit. Fayette County Deputies, Schulenburg Police Officers, Flatonia Police Officers and the Department Of Public Safety Troopers all responded.  Law Enforcement was advised the vehicle’s tires were spiked in Colorado County and the driver continued driving on rims.  The vehicle entered Fayette County and came to a stop at the about a mile past Schulenburg in the lane of traffic. The driver continued displaying a handgun as Law Enforcement had I-10 shut down east and westbound for the safety of traveling motorists. Fayette County activated the Austin-Fayette County SRT team who responded to the scene. After a long standoff and attempted negotiations with the driver, CS gas was deployed by the SRT team to end the standoff.  The driver fired his weapon suffering a self-inflicted gunshot wound around 08:50 AM.  Fayette County Justice of the Peace Dan Mueller conducted the Inquest.  The name of the driver is being withheld pending notification of family members. Assisting with traffic control was the Texas Department of Transportation of Colorado and Fayette Counties.