A police officer and one suspect were fatally gunned down on Sunday morning while a second suspect was shot during a shoot-out on the N2 near the R34 Richards Bay/Empangeni exit.

The incident occurred just after 7.30am.

According to Brigadier Jeros Tango, the police officers had been going about their duties when the incident occurred.

The remaining suspects fled on foot and the shoot-out continued in the nearby bush.

Residents living in the vicinity were reportedly told by police officers to lock themselves in their homes.

The N2 southbound carriageway just north of the R34 exit was closed for much of the day as forensics teams combed the area for evidence.

A secondary incident occurred when a motorist driving north rear-ended a City of uMhlathuze fire engine.

Three patients were taken to hospital, one critically injured and two with moderate injuries.