MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A man is now dead after he was found “unconscious” behind the wheel in Hernando, Mississippi following a police pursuit overnight.

According to the Hernando Police Department, just before 1 a.m., officers conducted a traffic stop on a blue Ford F-150 in the area of Pleasant Hill Road on Interstate 55.

That is when the vehicle pulled over at a weigh station on I-55 with a man and woman inside.

After the woman was identified by police, they say she got out of the vehicle. The male driver began to persuade officers to let him make a phone call while still inside of the car.

The man then drove off at a high rate of speed, leaving the weigh station, police say. A police chase was then initiated.

Reports state that the man pulled over on the right shoulder on I-55 in the area of Church Road.

When officers attempted to make contact with the driver, police say there was no response. At that time they broke out a window of the vehicle.

HPD says while utilizing department assets, they noticed the unconscious driver with a handgun in his lap.

That is when officers say they secured the driver and the handgun before requesting medical personnel to make the scene.

The male driver was pronounced dead at the scene and released to the DeSoto County Coroner, according to reports.

No officers were reported injured.

No name of the deceased will be released as law enforcement personnel attempt to make contact with the family at this time.

HPD says the Southaven Police Department, the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Department, and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation assisted with the incident and ongoing investigation.

This is a developing story. WREG will provide updates as they become available.