Drone locates driver trapped in ravine following 120 mph pursuit

A high-speed pursuit involving the Logan County Sheriff’s Office early Wednesday morning ended with a vehicle crashing into a heavily wooded ravine, leaving the driver trapped until emergency responders located the wreckage with the assistance of a thermal imaging drone.

The driver was identified through Logan County Jail records as 24-year-old Leo Daniel Michaels of Yukon.

The pursuit began at approximately 2:18 a.m. near Interstate 35 and Seward Road when a driver reportedly failed to stop for a Logan County deputy attempting a traffic stop.

Authorities said the pursuit reached speeds of up to 120 mph as the vehicle exited Interstate 35 at Seward Road and continued eastbound.

Near the intersection of Seward Road and Midwest Boulevard, the vehicle crashed.

According to information from the scene, the vehicle struck two concrete barriers along the roadway, each weighing approximately 2,800 pounds, moving both barriers from their positions.

The vehicle then flipped and spun approximately 200 yards before coming to rest in a heavily wooded ravine. Debris from the crash was scattered throughout the area.

Deputies initially struggled to locate the vehicle because of the terrain and darkness. A front bumper with a California license plate was discovered near the crash site, but the vehicle itself was not immediately visible.

Multiple law enforcement officers and firefighters responded to search the area.

With the vehicle still missing, authorities requested assistance from Logan County Emergency Management.

Logan County Emergency Manager Steven Haga responded with a drone equipped with infrared technology capable of detecting heat signatures.

The drone was launched just after 3 a.m. and located the crashed vehicle 10 minutes later, more than an hour after the pursuit began.

Using the drone, Haga detected heat coming from the vehicle deep inside the wooded ravine and helped direct deputies to its location.

A deputy reached the vehicle and made contact with Michaels, who was conscious and alert but trapped inside.

Michaels reportedly told the deputy he was not injured but could not get out of the vehicle.

Woodcrest Fire Department was requested to assist with the extraction, including the use of chainsaws to access the wreckage through the heavily wooded area.

Emergency responders successfully removed Michaels from the vehicle. Despite the severity of the crash, he reportedly suffered no major injuries.

Michaels was taken into custody and booked into the Logan County Jail at approximately 7:30 a.m. Wednesday.

According to jail records, Michaels was booked on allegations of eluding a police officer, aggravated driving under the influence, speeding, failure to stop at a stop sign, and reckless driving.

No formal criminal charges had been filed as of Wednesday afternoon. Charges could be filed as early as Thursday afternoon.

The incident continued into Wednesday morning as crews worked to recover the heavily damaged vehicle from the ravine.

Haga, the Logan County Sheriff’s Office, Logan County District No. 2 personnel, and a towing company coordinated the recovery operation.

The difficult terrain and distance from the roadway added challenges for crews trying to remove the wreckage.

The incident required a coordinated response involving law enforcement, emergency management, firefighters, and county personnel, with the drone playing a key role in locating the vehicle and its trapped driver.