Pennsylvania State police have identified Cpl. Seth Kelly, as the trooper involved in a shooting on Route 33 in Northampton County.
During a press conference Wednesday morning, officials said Kelly, 39, was gravely injured after he was shot multiple times Tuesday morning during a traffic stop.
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Kelly, a 13-year state police veteran, remains in critical but stable condition in the hospital.
Police said Trooper Ryan Seiple pulled over a car on Route 33, near Route 191, in Plainfield Township around 10:15 a.m. The driver, Daniel Clary was issued a citation, and told he was free to go. As Seiple was about to depart the scene, officials say Clary got out of his car and flagged the trooper down.
It was then that Seiple noticed Clary, 22, appeared to be under the influence of an intoxicant and called for backup.
Kelly arrived on the scene to conduct a field sobriety test on Clary.
Kelly found Clary to be under the influence and when the officers tried to take him into custody, he resisted, broke loose and violently began to fight the troopers.
At some point, Officer Kelly was shot multiple times.
“It was a knockout, drag-out fight along the side of the road with vehicles speeding by, and [Clary] got very, very violent. I saw the confrontation on video already and it was a very violent fight,” said Capt. Rich D’Ambrosio, commander of the Troop M barracks in Bethlehem.
D’Ambrosio said the troopers used a Taser on Clary and he fell over, but was able to get up and keep fighting. Officials said the violent scuffle went on for about two minutes, sometimes going into the highway traffic lane. Officials said Clary then ran back to his car, grabbed a gun, and shot at the troopers several times, hitting Kelly several times.
The troopers returned fire, and police said Kelly fell over the guiderail, but was still able to fire shots at Clary’s car. Clary got in his car and sped off.
State police said Kelly was able to get a tourniquet that he carried on his belt and apply it to one of his own wounds, likely saving his life. source
Meanwhile, officials said Clary, who was also shot in the incident, drove himself to an area hospital and was taken into police custody.
Clary’s condition was not known as of Wednesday morning.