Officer involved shooting closes SR89 near Squaw Valley/Alpine

The Placer County Sheriff's Office is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred around 3:00 a.m. Friday near North Lake Tahoe.

At around 1:40 a.m., deputies and California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers attempted to pull over a suspected DUI driver, who was driving dangerously and erratically on Highway 28. The pursuit was terminated a few minutes later.

At 2:45 a.m., a deputy saw the car on Highway 28, near Dollar Hill, again driving erratically, and attempted to pull him over. The male driver failed to yield, and a pursuit began.

Spike strips were successfully deployed by CHP officers, and the car stopped on Highway 89, between Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows. The driver exited the car, holding his female passenger hostage, at gunpoint, and walked away. He pointed his gun at deputies and at passing vehicles. He walked up a residential driveway with deputies and CHP officers behind him, attempting to negotiate with him. Fearing for the safety and lives of the hostage and the people inside the home where he was headed, deputies shot the suspect. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The female, as well as all deputies and CHP officers, were uninjured.

Highway 89 will remain closed between Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows for a significant time while the investigation is conducted.

No other details are available at this time.