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By Julie Steigerwald – email

PHOENIX (AP) – The Arizona Department of Public Safety says one of its officers has died after being struck by a colleague’s patrol car during a high-speed police chase.

DPS Lt. Steve Harrison identifies the officer as 28-year-old Chris Marano.  Marano was married and was the father of four.  He worked for DPS for two years.

Harrison says the chase reaching speeds of 100 mph began Thursday night on Phoenix Loop 101 near 56th Street after a vehicle was spotted with a stolen license plate.

Harrison says as an officer pursued the suspect west on 101, another officer laid down spike strips near the 7th Avenue overpass.  He says the DPS vehicle struck the officer in the roadway, and authorities are trying to determine if the suspect’s car also hit the officer.

Harrison say the chase continued and suspect eventually fled on foot and was captured hiding on a porch near 5th Avenue in west Phoenix.

A female suspect was taken into custody but she wasn’t further identified. 

Harrison say the officer in the car suffered a hand injury and was receiving hospital treatment.

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