An Arizona Department of Public Safety trooper was shot and wounded in an ambush early Thursday morning.
The trooper was responding to a call from a citizen that reported their vehicle was shot from the median near milepost 81 on Interstate 10 near Tonopah around 4 a.m. when the incident occurred, according to KNXV-TV.
While responding to the call, the trooper came upon a rollover crash near milepost 89 and saw a woman had been ejected from her vehicle and began working to block lanes.
That's when the trooper was ambushed by a suspect who came from an unknown direction. The suspect shot the trooper at least once in the chest/shoulder-area and tackled the trooper to the ground.
A passerby stopped to help the trooper. Officials say the driver went back to his car, grabbed a gun and fatally shot the suspect after he failed to obey his commands to stop attacking the trooper.
DPS Col. Frank Milstead said he is grateful the man stopped to assist the trooper.
"Thank you, because I don't know if my trooper would be alive today without his assistance."
The unidentified trooper -- who has been with the department for 27 years -- was transported to a local hospital where he was awaiting surgery and is listed in stable condition.
