A Scott County, Kentucky, sheriff's deputy died Tuesday after he was shot during a traffic stop, according to local news reports.

Lexington's WKYT-TV reported the deputy was shot at the traffic stop on southbound Interstate 75, just before 5 p.m. Monday near mile marker 127. The suspect in the car then fled.

The Scott County Sheriff's Office identified the deputy as Caleb Conley in a Facebook post.

During a press conference recorded by WKYT, Scott County Sheriff Tony Hampton said Conley had been a member of the force for four years and in the military for eight years prior to that.

He was described as an excellent asset to the staff. The sheriff said Conley was “a damn good deputy, took his job seriously. He was a go-getter who loved his job. And he was so good at it."

The Kentucky State Police has taken over the investigation.

The officer was hailed as a hero by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear.

The Enquirer will update this report when more information becomes available.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Report: Kentucky deputy shot and killed during I-75 traffic stop