A man who died after shooting a CHP Officer and stealing his patrol car in Tehama County on Sunday had a long criminal history, though his motive might never be known. The officer had stopped to assist with a disabled car on Southbound Interstate 5 south of Chard Avenue. The driver, 39-year-old Joseph Michael Pate of Pittsburg, California, fired on the officer with what’s described as an assault rifle. The officer was struck but returned fire, striking pate several times. Pate then stole the CHP patrol car and fled southbound on the freeway. North of Finnell Avenue in Corning, Pate ran the Dodge Charger into a tractor-trailer, which veered off the freeway and toppled onto its side, causing minor injuries to the trucker. The CHP car crashed into a field and caught fire. Pate was transported to Enloe Hospital in Chico, where he later died. The CHP Officer, who has not been identified, was flown to Mercy Hospital in Redding, where he underwent surgery and is recovering. Pate had been arrested at least 11 times in the Bay Area since 2014 on charges including burglary, DUI and drug possession.