ZANESVILLE – The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating an early morning apparent suicide on Prior Road, one mile east of State Route 146 in Licking Township.

At 2:54 this morning, a Zanesville Post trooper attempted to stop a 2002 KIA Sportage for a speed violation on North Point Drive (County Road 723). The vehicle did not stop and a pursuit continued on County and Township Roads in Muskingum Township, Cass Township, and Jackson Township.

At 3:22 a.m., the Sportage lost control and went off the left side of the road, struck a fence, went back on the road and struck the Patrol cruiser. As a result of the crash, both vehicles went off the right side of the road into a ditch. The trooper was not injured in the crash.

Following the crash, the trooper heard a single gun shot. The trooper approached the Sportage and found the driver had apparently killed himself with a shotgun.

The Muskingum County Coroner arrived at the scene and the body was taken to the Licking County Coroners Office for an autopsy. Next-of-kin has not yet been notified.

The investigation is ongoing.

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