Wrong-way driver causes crash south of Lawrence

Posted: January 2, 2019 - 11:44 a.m.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says a wrong-way driver caused a head-on crash south of Lawrence on New Year's Day.

Troopers say the crash occurred just after 6 p.m. in the southbound lanes of U.S. 59 Highway at North 1200 Road, or about three-quarters of a mile south of Kansas Highway 10.

The Highway Patrol's preliminary crash report says a 54-year-old Eudora man was driving a 2015 Jeep Wrangler northbound in the southbound lanes of the highway. A 74-year-old Ottawa woman was driving southbound in a 2012 Toyota Camry with her six-year-old grandson as a passenger.

The wrong-way Jeep crashed head-on with the Toyota at the intersection of U.S. 59 and North 1200 Road.

Troopers say the crash caused the Toyota to spin and come to rest in the middle of the intersection, while the wrong-way Jeep stopped on North 1200 Road.

Both drivers were transported to hospitals by Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical ambulances. The man driving the Jeep was taken to Lawrence Memorial Hospital to be checked out. The woman driving the Toyota, along with her grandson, were transported to the Overland Park Regional Medical Center with what Troopers describe as a "suspected minor injury." The six-year-old boy was not injured but was transported with his grandmother until his parents could arrive to be with him.

All three people involved in the crash were wearing seatbelts.

Troopers arrested the driver of the Jeep for suspicion of DUI, transporting an open container of alcohol, and aggravated battery causing bodily harm while DUI. Formal charges have not been filed.

Operation 100 News does not release the names of individuals involved in crashes unless they are charged with a crime. As of this report, no formal charges have been filed.

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Two people critically injured in separate Douglas County accidents

Posted: March 9, 2014 - 1:14am
Updated: March 9, 2014 - 3:08am

Douglas County Deputies are investigating two accidents this morning.

First accident

The first was reported shortly before 12:30 Sunday morning near the intersection of N. 950 Road and E. 850 Road, south of Clinton Lake.

Emergency crews arrived on the scene to report one vehicle, on its side and in the ditch. The driver had to be extricated from the vehicle.

Medics reported the driver's injuries to be critical. A LifeStar Helicopter transported the injured driver to Stormont-Vail HealthCare center in Topeka.

Clarion Springs EMS, Clinton Township Fire, Wakarusa Township Fire and Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical all assisted on the scene and the helicopter landing zone.

Google Earth map of both accident scenes
Click image to view larger

Second accident

The second accident was initially reported as a possible grass fire just before 1:10 a.m.. It is unclear who reported the fire but, an arriving deputy found a vehicle down a steep embankment at the intersection of N. 1550 Road and E. 1625 Road in Wakarusa Township.

Medics reported the driver's injuries to be critical and requested a helicopter for transport. Dispatchers contacted LifeFlight Eagle and LifeNet, both were unavailable due to fog in the area east of Lawrence.

The injured driver, only identified as a 55-year-old man, was transported by a Lawrence Medic unit to the University of Kansas hospital in Kansas City, Kansas. His injuries are said to include a head laceration.

Stay with Operation 100 News on this blog and on Twitter for the latest details as they become available. Remember where you heard this news first, Operation 100 News, reporting the news to the public as it breaks.

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