Ohio Man Critically Injured After Crashing Stolen Vehicle Wednesday Morning

At approximately 7:18 a.m., San Marcos Police Dispatch received a call of a traffic collision northbound IH-35 near the Posey Road exit.

An Ohio man was critically injured Wednesday morning after crashing a stolen vehicle on IH-35 and running into oncoming traffic on foot.

At approximately 7:18 a.m., San Marcos Police Dispatch received a call of a traffic collision northbound IH-35 near the Posey Road exit.

According to witnesses, a 2004 Pontiac passenger vehicle with Ohio plates was driving at a high rate of speed and lost control in the rain. The vehicle struck the center concrete barrier and stopped in a lane of traffic. 

The driver, later identified as Michael Ray Russell (DOB 11/15/1987) of Wooster, Ohio, then exited the vehicle and began walking north on the inside shoulder.

A San Marcos patrol officer responding to the collision located the driver and attempted to detain him.  Russell was initially compliant, but then ran from the officer.  He ran across the interstate twice before being struck by a 2017 Ram pickup.  The officer did not follow him through traffic, but was giving commands to stop running.  

Russell received serious injuries, including a fractured skull and compound femur fracture.  San Marcos Fire Department and Hays County EMS were summoned and transported him to Seton-Hays Hospital in Kyle.  He arrived in critical condition and was soon after flown to Dell Medical Center in Austin by helicopter.  As of 8 a.m. Dec. 7, 2017, Russell was on life-support in critical condition.

After further investigation, officers learned the Pontiac Russell was driving was reported stolen out of Wooster, Ohio, and Russell had a warrant out of Michigan for Receiving Stolen Property – Motor Vehicle.  

San Marcos Police Collision Investigation Team is conducting the investigation into the collision. Charges may be pending if Russell recovers from his injuries.

This is the eighth major collision the Team has been called to investigate this year, and there have been five traffic fatalities in San Marcos for 2017.