David Bain Suicide, Death, ElizabethTown PA: Driver Dies By Suicide After Traffic Stop Attempt In Central Pennsylvania

Authorities in Lancaster County have identified the man who died during a police encounter in Elizabethtown as 66‑year‑old David Bain of Danville, Georgia, according to statements from the Elizabethtown Borough Police Department and the Lancaster County Coroner’s Office.

The incident began at approximately 1:59 a.m. on March 15, when an Elizabethtown police officer observed a dark‑colored Ford F‑150 traveling west on West High Street without illuminated headlights or taillights. The officer also noted erratic driving behavior and visible smoke or steam coming from the vehicle. After witnessing several traffic violations, the officer activated emergency lights and a siren in an attempt to conduct a traffic stop.

The vehicle continued for roughly two miles before stopping on the berm of the 700 block of West Bainbridge Street. Before officers approached the truck, the driver sustained a self‑inflicted gunshot wound. Officers removed him from the vehicle and initiated lifesaving efforts until EMS personnel arrived. Bain was pronounced deceased at 3:22 a.m. by the Lancaster County Coroner’s Office.

An autopsy conducted on March 16 determined the cause of death to be a gunshot wound to the head, and the manner of death was ruled a suicide. Police noted that the truck had significant front‑end damage, suggesting it may have been involved in a prior collision. Officers searched possible travel routes but did not locate a crash scene. Anyone with information regarding a potential collision involving the vehicle is asked to contact the Elizabethtown Police Department.

Multiple agencies assisted at the scene, including the Northwest Regional Police Department, MESA, Elizabethtown Fire Police, and the Lancaster County Coroner’s Office.