(UPDATE’S w/suspect dying) (Des Moines, Iowa) –  Officials with the Des Moines Police Department said in a news release, Monday, that a Des Moines police officer and a suspect were hit by a car during a foot chase Monday night. The incident happened in the 3700 block of Southeast 14th Street near Watrous Avenue. According to the statement, “At approximately 7:47 p.m., the officer initiated a radio transmission that indicated he was in a violent encounter with an individual.

“The Des Moines Police Department Communications Center announced a need for assistance and additional patrol units responded,” police said in a news release. “At approximately 7:48 p.m., the Des Moines Police Department Communications Center began to receive calls reporting that a Des Moines Police Department officer, as well as an apparent fleeing suspect, had been hit by a vehicle.”  Police said Monday morning that the suspect, a 31-year-old man, has died. His name has not been released pending family notification. The officer, a 48-year-old man who has been a Des Moines officer since 2017, remains hospitalized. Police did not release his condition.

A statement from Des Moines Police said “The preliminary investigation, including witness statements and examination of evidence at the scene, indicates that the officer observed a sedan-style vehicle driving northbound in the 3800 block of SE 14th Street in reverse. The vehicle pulled into a business parking lot and the Traffic Unit officer stopped to investigate. During the initial conversation, the driver provided a false name to the officer. As the officer investigated, the driver fled on foot, running westbound into SE 14th Street. The officer followed. Evidence indicates that there was a physical struggle, in the southbound lanes of SE 14th Street, as the officer attempted to place the driver in custody. The driver attempted to flee back eastbound into the northbound lanes, with the officer following. There they were both struck by a northbound vehicle, operated by a 28-year-old, female, Ames resident,” police said in a news release. “The fleeing driver was found to have a felony-level, narcotics-related, active arrest warrant, and a barred driver’s license. No charges have been filed against the driver of the vehicle that struck both persons as evidence indicates that the crash was unavoidable.”