Man Who Crashed Stolen Vehicle Wednesday Morning Dies

At approximately 7:18 a.m. Dec. 6, San Marcos Police Dispatch received a call of a traffic collision northbound IH-35 near the Posey Road exit.

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

Michael Ray Russell (DOB 11/15/1987) of Wooster, Ohio, was taken off life support Dec. 9 at 12:45 a.m. and died immediately after. An autopsy will be performed by the Travis County Medical Examiner.

At approximately 7:18 a.m. Dec. 6, 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. 

Russell then exited the vehicle and began walking north on the inside shoulder.

A San Marcos patrol officer responding to the collision located Russell and attempted to detain him.  He 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 and placed on life support.

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. The driver of the truck who struck Russell will face no charges.

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