A Chevrolet Corvette traveling at approximately 154 mph led New York State Police on a pursuit that ended with the sports car abandoned and burning in Clifton Park. Troopers had deployed a tire-deflation device before losing sight of the vehicle, but the driver was nowhere to be found.
The investigation took another turn when police located the Corvette’s registered owner, Logan J. Powers, 28, of Waterford, at his home. He was uninjured and provided a written statement claiming someone else had stolen the car.
Investigators reached a different conclusion. They say Powers had been driving the Corvette and that a family member picked him up after he abandoned it.
Powers was arrested October 14, 2026, two days after the pursuit, and now faces four misdemeanor charges and numerous traffic violations. The cause of the Corvette fire remains under investigation.
A Pursuit Takes an Unexpected Turn
According to an October 15 New York State Police press release, troopers attempted to stop the blue Corvette around 10:20 p.m. October 12 as it traveled southbound on Route 9 in Clifton Park at more than 150 mph. Earlier WRGB reporting put the recorded speed at 154 mph.
The driver refused to stop and continued along Ushers Road before entering Interstate 87 southbound. Troopers successfully deployed a tire-deflation device just south of Exit 9, but lost sight of the Corvette and terminated the pursuit shortly afterward.
The video below shows the burned Corvette and the initial police response, when the driver’s whereabouts were still unknown. Since that report aired, State Police have identified and arrested Powers in connection with the pursuit.
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The tire-deflation deployment raises an interesting question about the Corvette’s ability to continue driving. Chevrolet has equipped numerous Corvette models with run-flat tires, which are designed to support a vehicle for a limited distance even after losing inflation pressure.
Unlike conventional tires, self-supporting run-flats use reinforced sidewalls to help carry the vehicle’s weight after a puncture. Michelin confirmed that the 2014 Corvette Stingray, for example, came equipped with its Pilot Super Sport ZP run-flat tires.
Tire-deflation devices are designed to puncture tires and release air, but a successful deployment does not necessarily bring a vehicle to an immediate stop. Run-flat tires can allow continued travel after losing pressure, although their capabilities are sharply restricted. Michelin specifies a maximum of 50 mph for up to 50 miles for its Zero Pressure tires after a loss of inflation.
Those limits are far below the speed reported at the beginning of this pursuit. State Police have not identified the Corvette’s model year or tires, confirmed whether the device punctured them, or explained how far the vehicle traveled afterward.
The Corvette Reappears
Around 11 p.m., emergency responders found the Corvette unoccupied and on fire near Southbury Road and Montgomery Way in Clifton Park. The driver was gone, leaving investigators to determine who had been behind the wheel and what had happened to the vehicle.
State Police have not identified the Corvette’s model year or generation. Based on the rounded rear taillights and surviving body contours visible in footage of the burned vehicle, it appears to be a C5 or C6 Corvette, although extensive fire damage makes a definitive identification difficult.
State Police subsequently identified Powers as the registered owner and located him at his Waterford residence. He submitted a written statement denying involvement in the pursuit and claiming an unknown individual had stolen the Corvette from Waterford without his permission.
Investigators determined that Powers had allegedly operated the vehicle during the chase. According to police, a family member picked him up after he abandoned the Corvette and drove him home.
The agency has not disclosed the evidence used to establish who was driving or how investigators contradicted the reported theft claim.
The circumstances surrounding the fire also remain unresolved. The Saratoga County Office of Emergency Management Fire Investigation Unit is assisting State Police, who have not announced whether the Corvette crashed, what ignited the fire, or whether the tire-deflation deployment contributed to the vehicle’s condition.
Four Charges Follow
Powers was charged with second-degree reckless endangerment, third-degree unlawfully fleeing a police officer, second-degree obstructing governmental administration, and making a punishable false written statement. All four offenses are Class A misdemeanors under New York law. He also faces numerous vehicle and traffic law violations.
After being processed at the State Police barracks in Clifton Park, Powers was issued an appearance ticket and released. He is scheduled to appear in Clifton Park Town Court on November 11, 2026.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.