Arizona police officer fatally struck during traffic stop

5years ago

An Arizona police officer has been fatally hit during a traffic stop on Tuesday night, authorities said.

According to officials, Salt River Police officer Clayton Townsend stopped a white car for expired registration on Loop 101 around 6 p.m Tuesday. He was standing outside the driver's side of the car while a black vehicle swerved into the right-side emergency lane and struck him.

News outlets claimed that "During the investigation on scene, the driver of the black passenger car told AZDPS detectives he had been texting during the time his vehicle entered the right-side emergency lane and struck the police officer."

40-year-old Jerry Sanstead was arrested on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and manslaughter.