A November 5 press release from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation details an officer-involved shooting that left a man dead on the side of Colorado’s Highway 550, best known for a stretch of the route commonly referred to as the ‘Million Dollar Highway.’

The situation unfolded when multiple 911 calls were received related to an alleged physical domestic disturbance taking place inside of a moving vehicle that was traveling the highway at about 2:40 p.m. on November 4. The vehicle was seen leaving Durango northbound, headed toward the town of Trimble. Trimble is located about 15 miles south of Purgatory Resort, with this ski area located just south of where the winding stretch of 550 known as Molas Pass starts.

After the emergency calls were received related to the situation, a La Plata County Sheriff’s Office deputy and a Durango police officer located the vehicle around the 28000 block of U.S. Highway 550 and initiated a stop. The stop occurred about six miles north of Durango.

Preliminary information, which includes consideration of law enforcement body camera footage, is reported to indicate that the female passenger got out of the vehicle and ran toward law enforcement for aid followed by the male driver leaving the vehicle and allegedly advancing toward the woman and the deputy while armed with an ax handle and a baseball bat.

In response to the male’s alleged advance, the deputy fired his service weapon, fatally wounding the male suspect. The suspect was pronounced deceased at the scene following immediate first aid.

No other people were injured in the incident, including the female passenger and the law enforcement officers that responded.

At this time, the case remains under investigation with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation taking lead on that effort.