Philadelphia traffic stop gone wrong leads to gunfight and school bus fire

A Pennsylvania state police trooper was shot and injured after a routine traffic stop turned violent early Tuesday morning.

The encounter began as two troopers pulled over a vehicle, after which a suspect got back into his car and fled. Police say the suspect's car rear-ended a school bus, causing both to catch fire. There were no children on the bus, authorities said.

State police spokeswoman Maria Finn said the incident happened around 9:30 a.m., along Interstate 676, which runs through the center of Philadelphia.

"He got out of the vehicle and started firing at the trooper," Officer Finn said of the suspect.

District Attorney Seth Williams said the trooper returned fire after being shot at. The suspect was injured but the extent of his injuries remains unknown.

Mr. Williams said that the trooper appeared to have been hit while still in his cruiser as a police cruiser near the scene appeared to have bullet holes in the windshield. 

Steve Glowacki saw it all unfold from across the street.

"I saw a gunfight down here," he told the Associated Press while pointing to the interstate from an overpass. "I came out, there were cops down there, shooting at someone, and then someone was shooting at them."

He said he saw state police troopers with guns drawn.

"I heard what I thought was gunfire, and it turns out that it was," he said. "When I came out, there was a gunfight going on and that car had already hit the bus."

The suspect and two passengers in the suspect's vehicle were eventually arrested with the help of some good Samaritans.

The trooper was transported to Hahnemann University Hospital with non life-threatening injuries.  

According to AP, Mayor Michael Nutter spoke to the trooper, and said he was "awake, alert and talking" and in "good spirits."

Authorities say, the trooper won't be publicly identified until his family members are notified.

This report contains material from the Associated Press.