Truck driver shot after leading police on chase

The driver of a stolen 18-wheeler flatbed semi truck was shot in Kaufman on July 15 after leading Kaufman law enforcement officers on a chase through downtown Kaufman.

The driver, Chris Donlee Mathis, 44, of Mabank, was shot after trying to swerve into a Kaufman police officer who was stopping traffic with his vehicle, according to Capt. Fred Klingelburger of the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Department.

Mathis is still in the hospital because of injuries sustained in the incident.

The name of the officer who fired on the truck has not been released.

Local law enforcement was first notified of the red Mack truck after a theft was reported at the Kountry Korner grocery store on Washington Street. Klingelburger said dispatch sent officers to the scene around 11:20 a.m.

Officers could not find the truck but were later notified of an 18-wheeler matching the truck’s description ramming a car near Farm-to-Market Road 987.

“From there a slow pursuit ensued,” Klingelburger said.

Officers laid a spike strip down on Jefferson Street near the corner of Fair Street. The spikes blew out the front left tire of the truck and the vehicle attempted to turn right onto Fair Street where the unknown officer was blocking off traffic.

The shooting occurred around noon, Klingelburger said. The driver was airlifted from the scene shortly after, and taken to Baylor Medical Center in Dallas. His status is unknown, but Klingelburger did say he sustained non-life threatening injuries.

The Kaufman Police Department, Sheriff’s Department, Kaufman County Constable’s office and the Kaufman Fire Department all responded to the

incident.

The Texas Rangers are investigating the shooting.