が早いか

が早いか attaches to a verb in the plain form (dictionary form) or past plain form to express that the second clause happens immediately after or almost simultaneously with the action in the first clause. It has a dramatic, almost literary nuance, conveying a sense of surprise or quick succession. It is more common in written Japanese, news reports, or storytelling than in casual conversation. The subject of the second clause is usually the same as the speaker or a nearby actor, and the second action is immediate and often unexpected.