A police officer in Ohio was killed while trying to stop a fleeing car on Interstate 75 during a high-speed chase on Wednesday. 

The chase began near Marion when authorities saw the car going more than 100 mph. The chase continued across several counties.

During the chase, Dominic Francis of the Bluffton police department was struck by the vehicle while he was setting up stop sticks, which flatten tires.

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Three suspects inside the car drove away for a short distance before they jumped out and ran.

One of them was found nearby while a second one was taken into custody in a stolen car in Elyria, about 100 miles (161 kilometers) northeast of Bluffton, said Sgt. Brice Nihiser of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. 

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Search was on for the third suspect. The search caused schools in the nearby village of Bluffton to cancel classes, and Bluffton University told students to stay in their rooms and advised employees to stay home. I-75 also was shut down.

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Who was Dominic Francis?

The 41-year-old had been an officer in Bluffton for the past nine years, said Police Chief Ryan Burkholder. He also worked as a school teacher, bus driver and as a football and softball coach with Cory-Rawson schools.

“It’s a sad day. This community lost a hero. He is an outstanding police officer. His heart was big. Not only was he a police officer, he was a school teacher. He was a bus driver. He was a coach to the youth in this community. He had a heart of gold. He will be sorrowly missed,” Burkholder said, adding that the department had not had an officer die on duty since the 1920s.

Paying tribute to the officer, Mayor Rich Johnson of Bluffton, said,  “This is a very sad day for not only the residents of Bluffton and his family, but the brotherhood of law enforcement. We’d like to thank the family, let them know that the village will do everything we can to help the family out. We send our condolences out to all those involved.”