CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AP) _ A Corpus Christi police officer died early Wednesday after being struck while putting out spikes to try to help stop a man being pursued from the scene of a disturbance.
Police said Lt. Stuart Jay Alexander was struck by the driver of the sport utility vehicle officers were chasing. Alexander was taken to a hospital, where he later died.
He had been with the department for 20 years. He was married and had a son and three grandchildren.
The Corpus Christi Caller-Times reports Alexander, 47, was standing in a grassy median when he was struck about midnight.
The 21-year-old man police were chasing was shot and wounded by officers. Police said the man began ramming their patrol cars and tried to run over them as officers tried to get him out of the SUV.
The man was in intensive care with non-life threatening injuries.
An investigation continues. Formal charges are pending.