COLUMBUS (WCMH) – A man is dead and a deputy was injured following a crash with a Franklin County Sheriff’s cruiser Monday morning.

Witness to the crash, Dan Biddle said it’s something he’ll never forget. “Can’t get that out of your mind it’s something you just can’t erase,” said Biddle.

According to Columbus police, at about 9:07 a.m. Monday, Franklin County Deputy Brian Fritz, 39, was driving a Ford Explorer sheriff cruiser westbound on Sullivant Avenue east of Wilson Road, with active lights and sirens, when Nyal E. Brown, 77, entered the roadway driving a Chevy Astro van.

Police said the cruiser collided with the driver side of the van and Brown was ejected from the vehicle. He was later pronounced dead at the scene.

According to Chief Deputy Jim Gilbert, deputies were in pursuit of a suspected impaired driver who nearly hit a cruiser at about the same time as the crash.

Courtesy: Elias Nibirrede

Carl Smith saw the sheriff’s deputy car coming and pulled over, when he saw the collision. “He was coming right out of the KeyBank in the van. It tries to turn left and the sheriff’s deputy t-bones him,” Smith said.

The cruiser then caught fire and as emergency crews respond to try and help Brown, Brittany Cline watched in disbelief. “His car was demolished, his car, the cop car, I’m still shaking. You feel so sorry for his family,” Cline said.

The impact turned the front of the cruiser into an inferno said Gilbert. “The front of the cruiser did catch fire. An off-duty Columbus police sergeant assisted in getting the deputy out of the car,” Gilbert said.

After the fiery crash Fritz was taken to Doctor’s Hospital with what is described as minor injuries. Soon after he was admitted, other Franklin County Sheriff’s deputies began arriving at the hospital to show their support of Fritz. He was later released.

Other deputies later caught up with the suspected impaired driver and took that person into custody after using a stun gun.

Columbus police continue to investigate the crash.

Now the sheriffs office will look at rules and regulations to make sure that they were followed the way they should be based on their pursuit policy.

“Part of the review will be with policy followed, contact with a supervisor, or shut that pursuit down.   We routinely ask our supervisors to monitor,” Gilbert said.