On the morning of February 17,  Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office deputies observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed south on Birchwood Pike.

Deputies attempted to overtake the vehicle to initiate a traffic stop, and the driver pulled off the roadway onto a field near the 12400 block of Birchwood Pike. Once stopped, deputies approached the vehicle and observed the driver with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Medical aid was immediately administered, but the driver was pronounced deceased by Hamilton County Emergency Medical Services. HCSO detectives and the Hamilton County Medical Examiner’s Office are currently conducting the investigation, and the decedent was transported to the forensic center to further determine the cause and manner of death. Their identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

This information is preliminary and subject to change.