Suspect shoots cop, steals cruiser and dies after fiery crash with big rig [VIDEOS]

A recent report from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) has revealed an incident that occurred when a CHP officer approached what appeared to be a disabled vehicle parked on the side of I-5.

The vehicle, a white Honda with tinted windows and a sun visor on the front windshield, caught the officer's attention.

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Footage from the officer's patrol car's dashboard camera captures the moment the 10-year veteran officer approaches the vehicle from the passenger side and asks the driver to roll down the window.

Instead of complying, the driver brazenly refuses and exits the vehicle to open fire on the officer.

With the situation quickly heating up, the officer is attacked just one minute after his initial approach, and two minutes later the assailant opens fire on him again before driving off in the patrol car.

The suspect, later identified as Joseph Michael Pate, is seen on dash cam footage recklessly swerving through traffic before crashing into a tractor-trailer that sent him tumbling into a field where the police cruiser left catch fire.

Pate succumbed to his injuries after being taken into custody and taken to a hospital.

Meanwhile, the officer, who suffered gunshot wounds to the abdomen, shoulder and leg, has made a physical recovery and has since resumed duty.