Watch: Suspect Forces Collision with Deputy, Ends Up in Lake, Police Say

Highland Township, MI — A 55-year-old Independence Township motorist ended up in the drink after leading police on two high-speed chases near White Lake Wednesday morning, authorities said.

The driver, who hasn’t been identified, was unconscious when he was pulled from the vehicle, and is currently being held under guard at Huron Valley Hospital in Commerce Township, where he is in stable condition, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

The motorist was operating the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer erratically on White Lake Road north of Andersonville in Independence Township at about 10:44 a.m. when a deputy from the Independence Township substation attempted to stop him on a reckless driving charge, the sheriff’s office said.

• NEWSLETTER & REAL-TIME NEWS ALERTS: Get the Top Michigan Headlines from Patch Editor Beth Dalbey

At one point, the sheriff’s office said, the motorist slammed on his brakes and the deputy’s patrol car struck the back of the SUV, but the officer was able to avoid a second collision when the suspect braked again.

The deputy ended the chase at 10:48 a.m. on Highland Road (M-59) in White Lake Township, and deputies from the Highland Township Substation picked it up at 10:51 a.m. near Highland Road and Duck Lake Road after the suspect pulled into the parking lot of a gas station.

He was unconscious after being extricated by the Highland Township Fire Department and transported to the hospital.

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said the suspect may have been under the influence of drugs, and a search warrant was obtained to test his blood.

No deputies or civilians were injured in the pursuit. Authorities described the chase as a high-speed event, but did not say how fast the vehicles were traveling.

Image and video credit: Oakland County Sheriff's Office