BAYARD — Two juveniles were hospitalized early Sunday morning after a vehicle crashed west of Bayard, according to the Morrill County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies were notified around 12:14 a.m. Nov. 9 of a reckless driver traveling through the Bayard city limits. The vehicle was later found west of town after colliding with an embankment and sustaining extensive damage.

When deputies and Bayard police arrived, they learned from a witness that several individuals had fled the scene on foot following the crash. Deputies said airbags had deployed and no one in the vehicle appeared to have been wearing seatbelts.

The driver remained at the scene and was taken by Bayard Fire Department personnel to a local hospital. A passenger who had been picked up by another individual after the crash was also transported to the hospital. Both were identified as juveniles.

Due to the possibility that additional passengers may have been in the vehicle, the Morrill County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the Scotts Bluff County Sheriff’s Office, which deployed a drone to search the area. No additional individuals were found.

The Morrill County Sheriff’s Office thanked the Scotts Bluff County Sheriff’s Office, Bayard Fire Department, and Bayard Police Department for their assistance.