MONTGOMERY — A 41-year-old man walking on Interstate 84 after his car apparently broke down was shot and killed after, state police said, he tried to enter a trooper’s patrol car early Thursday morning.

State police Maj. Pierce Gallagher said the shooting remains under both administrative and criminal investigations, with the Orange County District Attorney’s office assisting with the latter.

At a news conference, Gallagher said two troopers in a patrol car initially responded to a report of a disabled vehicle in the westbound lane of I-84 between exits 5A and 5 at about 1:55 a.m.

As they reached the disabled car, another report was received of a man walking west on the shoulder of I-84 near exit 5.

Gallagher said the troopers located the man, who was the driver of the disabled vehicle. One of the troopers got out of the patrol car and tried to speak to the man, who continued walking. The other trooper remained in the car and drove slowly alongside the other two.

According to Gallagher, the man would not speak with the trooper and refused to comply with multiple commands. When the man suddenly tried to enter the patrol car, one of the troopers fired his weapon, striking the man. More than one shot was fired, Gallagher said, but the exact number is under investigation.

No weapon was found on the man or at the scene, Gallagher said.

The troopers gave the man medical assistance at the scene while calling for an ambulance. The man, whose name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, was taken to Orange Regional Medical Center in the Town of Wallkill, where he was pronounced dead.

I-84 was closed for hours between the two exits while police investigated.

Gallagher said the man is a New York resident but is not from Orange County.

Gallagher said the troopers have not been suspended from duty.

mrandall@th-record.com