OSAKIS, Minn. — The family of a central Minnesota man who went missing earlier this month has confirmed that a body found Monday in a crashed vehicle along Interstate 94 is his.
In a statement on the “Bring Alan Home!” Facebook page, a family member of Alan Michael Thomas posted the following: “On behalf of family, we are sad to inform everyone that the search for Alan has come to a tragic end. Alan was found in his vehicle, which was upside down in a ravine not far from Osakis. We will inform everyone once we have more information. Thank you so much for all of your prayers.”
Thomas, 47, had been missing since Aug. 4 when family members said he traveled to Blaine to visit friends.
Shortly after 2 p.m. Monday, the Minnesota State Patrol responded to a report of an overturned vehicle in a ravine along Interstate 94 near West Union, southeast of Osakis. The vehicle had been spotted by someone with the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
When troopers arrived, they found a deceased person inside the vehicle, which was a 2008 Toyota Scion. It was determined that the Scion was westbound on I-94 at about milepost 121 when it veered off the road to the right and overturned and landed upside down in the ravine, according to the State Patrol report.
The report also stated that it is believed the vehicle and the occupant had been there for a long period of time. The body was taken to the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office for positive identification.