Evergreen, CO — A law enforcement shooting at a Walmart parking lot led to a crash on I-70, shutting down all eastbound lanes at Lookout Mountain.
The incident began with the recovery of a stolen Ford F-150 from Summit County. The vehicle was tracked to the Walmart just before 5 p.m. on Thursday by Clear Creek and Jefferson County Sheriff's Offices and the Colorado State Patrol (CSP).
When the truck's driver attempted to leave the parking lot, deputies activated their emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop. Reports indicate the driver rammed into law enforcement vehicles multiple times, prompting a CSP trooper to fire several shots at the truck, though no injuries occurred.
The driver fled, leading to a pursuit on Highway 74 and then eastbound on I-70. A tactical vehicle intervention by the trooper caused the driver to crash near milepost 259, resulting in injuries for both the driver and the trooper, who were taken to a hospital.
Authorities closed all eastbound I-70 lanes after a box labeled hazardous for radioactive material was discovered in the truck. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Bomb Squad assessed the situation, confirming the box contained a tool with radioactive material, which must remain until a vendor retrieves it.
The First Judicial Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) is investigating the shooting, while CSP leads the criminal investigation. No further information on the suspect has been released.
This incident follows a recent shooting at Evergreen High School, further straining the local community.