CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Cheektowaga police officer is in critical but stable condition at ECMC after he was struck by a fleeing vehicle early Monday morning.

The incident occurred around 4:30 a.m. when the officer was deploying stop sticks on Union Road at Route 33, in an attempt to end a pursuit related to stolen vehicles. Cheektowaga police say they were helping Depew officers at the time.

The officer was identified as 45-year-old Troy Blackchief, a father of three and a 17-year veteran of the Cheektowaga Police Department. He serves in the patrol division, as well as the SWAT team.

Aid was provided to Blackchief at the scene before he was taken to the hospital. Cheektowaga police said later Monday that Blackchief was out of surgery for a brain bleed.

During a conference updating the situation Monday morning, police said one of the vehicles that was stolen had been taken from the area of Penora Avenue in Depew. The pursuit began in the area of Walden Avenue and Dick Road before getting to Union Road from Genesee Street. Police Chief Brian Gould said that Blackchief did not have a chance to deploy a Stop Stick, which is designed to be thrown in front of a vehicle in order to pop the vehicle’s tires.

Police also said that both of the stolen vehicles have been found. One was found abandoned at a gas station at Kensington Avenue and Century Road in Cheektowaga, while the other was found on Nicholson Avenue in the City of Buffalo.

No suspects have been taken into custody, as of Monday morning. Anyone with information that could help police in their investigation is asked to call (716) 686-7461. For confidential tips, text CPDNY and then your message to 847411. In addition, Crimestoppers WNY is offering up to a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

The roadway was later reopened after being closed for hours.