The driver of a motorcycle was injured after crashing into a phone box and landing in a large thicket of trees and shrubs late Sunday morning. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene of the accident at 201 Shelby County Road M-16, at 11:29-a.m. They located the driver of a crashed 2005 Harley-Davidson Motorcycle, 62-year-old Ricky Lee Hansen of Harlan, in a large thicket of trees and shrubs with injuries to his head and left leg/hip area. When questioned, Hansen told deputies he had been laying in the thicket for 4 days. However, after speaking with the homeowners at the location that time-frame was believed to be inaccurate.

The residents said they left about one day prior, and damage to the communication box had not happened at that time. Evidence showed Hansen was traveling northbound on M-16, and appeared to have lost control on a curve before the cycle went into a ditch, struck the communications box, and crossed a driveway before sliding into the thicket that concealed him. It was believed that Hansen was laying at the scene for at least 12 hours but less than 24 hours.

Hansen suffered serious injuries and was taken by Shelby Rescue and Medivac Ambulance to Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan where they met Life Net Helicopter that transported him to the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. Damage to the motorcycle was estimated at $3,000 and damage to the communications box owned by Windstream was estimated at $1,000.