OHP Trooper shoots man during Tulsa traffic stop

An Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper opened fire on a suspect during a struggle that broke out underneath an overpass during a traffic stop.

Trooper Betsy Randolph tells KRMG at the scene that the incident began about 1:00 a.m. when the trooper ran the tag and it came back as expired, although it had a sticker that indicated it was valid until 2014.

Not sure what he had, the trooper hit his lights and went to pull over the van, which had two occupants.

The driver pulled a u-turn, ending up westbound under the I-44 overpass which crosses E. 11th Street just east of S. Garnett Ave.

As he questioned the driver, at some point he decided to take him into custody; early in the investigation, Trooper Randolph said, she didn't know exactly why.

The trooper got one handcuff on, when the man suddenly began to fight him and tried to get away.

The situation quickly escalated, and the man yelled at the passenger to grab something and run as he continued to fight with the trooper.

As the passenger did just that, and meanwhile the driver tried to grab the trooper's gun, but the trooper managed to push him away and drew his weapon, firing at the suspect.

He hit the man with at least one bullet, but the suspect managed to get back into his vehicle and took off, ending up at a nearby hotel where he pounded on a door and was allowed into a room occupied by a woman and children.

Investigators taped off the Executive Inn and Suites just a block or so west of the shooting scene and questioned guests.

The woman soon called 911 because the man was bleeding profusely, and when Tulsa police arrived they quickly connected his injuries with the trooper-involved shooting.

He was taken to St. John Medical Center; Randolph had no information on his medical status, but it appears he may survive his wounds.

Investigators have not located the passenger in the car.

The trooper is on paid suspension pending the investigation.

OHP has not yet released the names of any of the people involved.