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Man shoots self during traffic stop

| December 24, 2010 8:00 PM

A 31-year-old Post Falls man died on Monday morning after shooting himself during a traffic stop in Oregon the night before.

Igor V. Niaki died at a Springfield area hospital after he was stopped on Sunday at 8:50 p.m. on southbound Interstate 5 south of Rice Hill for possibly being intoxicated, according to Oregon State Police.

An OSP trooper contacted Niaki, who was driving a silver Ford Ranger pickup and noted indicators of possible intoxication.

"While standing next to the pickup talking with Niaki, who was seated inside, (the trooper) saw Niaki reach for and grab a handgun," an OSP press release states. "As Feland retreated he heard a single gunshot fired from inside the pickup."

Southbound traffic was stopped while cover officers from Sutherlin Police Department and Douglas County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene.

After the cover officers arrived, they approached the pickup and found Niaki inside injured from a gunshot wound. The officers immediately started emergency medical care until they were relieved by paramedics.

Niaki was initially transported by ground ambulance to Mercy Medical Center and later taken by LifeFlight to Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend in Springfield.

He was in critical condition until he passed away Monday.