PA State Police Corporal Likely Saved His Own Life After Shooting

The Pennsylvania state police corporal who was shot on Tuesday while assisting during a traffic stop for speeding likely saved his own life by applying a tourniquet to his wounds immediately, state police said in a press conference on Wednesday morning.

The injured state policeman has been identified as Corporal Seth Kelly, 39, a 13-year veteran of the force.

Another trooper, Trooper Ryan Seiple, had pulled over 22-year-old Daniel Khalil Clary at 10:15 a.m. on Route 33 near Route 191 in Plainfield Township, Northampton County. Clary was speeding.

Seiple issued him a citation, and had sent Clary on his way when Clary inexplicably got back out of his car and flagged Seiple down, authorities said. The road was busy, and Seiple tried to get Clary to get back in his car, but he refused, according to police.

That's when Kelly arrived on the scene to assist Seiple, and upon giving him a sobriety test, attempted to arrest him for driving under the influence.

>>PA State Police Corporal Shot, Suspect Captured

Clary, however, broke free from the pair and began wrestling with them on the side of the road. Police said that Seiple and Kelly used a taser repeatedly on Clary, but that it only knocked him down once, and that he continued to fight them off.

Eventually Clary got free, ran around to the driver's side of his vehicle, which had the window down, pulled out a handgun, and shot at the officers over the hood of his car.

Kelly was hit multiple times. Even after being hit, Kelly returned fire, as did Seiple, ultimately hitting Clary several times as well.

Clary managed to get into his 2008 blue Pontiac and flee the scene. He drove himself to Easton Hospital, which is about 15 minutes away.

Kelly, meanwhile, had fallen backwards over the guiderail, but somehow managed to take a tourniquet out from his belt and apply it to one of his wounds, "more than likely saving his own life," according to Rich D'Ambrosio, commander of Troop M, based in Bethlehem.

Kelly was taken by Medevac helicopter to St. Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem, where he immediately went into surgery in critical condition. He had been shot in his neck, shoulder, and leg, police said.

He remained in the intensive care unit Wednesday, and more surgeries were planned.

"Our trooper right now, he's battling it," D'Ambrosio said of Kelly's condition. "He's certainly not out of the woods by any means. He is a very strong individual and he displayed a will yesterday that he wants to get out of this. And we're all very proud of him."

D'Ambrosio praised both Kelly and Seiple for their handling of the incident, as well the various law enforcement agencies that assisted at the scene.

Clary was taken into custody and is being treated for his wounds. Police said he would be arraigned at bedside. He has been charged with attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, criminal homicide, and related counts.

“The thoughts of every Pennsylvania State Police employee are with our wounded member at this time,” Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Tyree C. Blocker said in a statement. “We remain grateful to the multitude of first responders and medical professionals who have provided care, and to all Pennsylvanians for their continued support.”

Main image courtesy Greg Donner