By Esther Robards

and Devin Monk

An early-morning crash on Bee Cave Road near One World Theatre had portions of the road shut down for more than an hour Friday, July 30.

At 3:18 a.m. Travis County Sheriff’s deputy spotted guardrail damage and followed the debris trail down an embankment to a creek bed where he found an upside down Mercedes S-500 with Michael Ray, 38, of Lakeway pinned inside.

Westlake Fire Department, along with Travis County Emergency Services, responded at 3:30 a.m.

After responders extracted Ray from the car, a STAR Flight helicopter transported him to University Medical Center Brackenridge with non-life-threatening injuries.

Bee Cave Road was reportedly reopened before the start of the morning rush hour.

Department of Public Safety Trooper Ramiro Saldivar said Ray suffered injuries to his arm and head but was discharged from the hospital that morning.

Saldivar said the accident is still under investigation, but he will issue a warrant for Ray’s arrest.

“He was heavily intoxicated,” Saldivar said, adding that Ray does not have any prior convictions. “Everybody could smell it. I could smell it when I interviewed him at 9 a.m. at his house.”