Car-train collision leaves one dead

Edgerton — An Edgerton woman was killed Friday and her husband critically injured after their sport utility vehicle was hit by a train in Edgerton.

The Johnson County Sheriff’s Department said 58-year-old Lelia S. Sabiston was killed after the family’s 2002 Ford Expedition went around railroad crossing arms and was hit by a northbound train.

Her husband, Guy E. Sabiston, 62, was airlifted to Kansas University Hospital in Kansas City, Kan., where he was listed Friday night in critical condition.

The sheriff’s department said the couple had stopped for a southbound train at 2:20 p.m., then drove around the crossing arms and were struck on the passenger side by the second train.

Officials said they didn’t know which one of the two was driving.

KU ground-breaking hails research building

Kansas City, Kan. — Kansas University officials gathered Friday to break ground on a new $56 million research facility at the KU Medical Center.

The new building will house researchers studying infertility, AIDS, diabetes and genetic links to disease.

“People the world over who suffer from brain disorders, ovarian cancer and other illnesses will be touched by what happens here,” Chancellor Robert Hemenway said. “In addition, the center will dramatically boost the economic development of this region’s life sciences initiatives.”

The 205,000-square-foot facility, at the northeast corner of 39th Street and Rainbow Boulevard, will be paid for with $27 million from the Hall Family Foundation and the remainder in state-issued bonds.

Suspect in beating of gay man surrenders

The man accused of hitting an openly gay man last year outside a downtown Lawrence bar was booked into jail on battery charges.

Luke E. Wells, 23, Manhattan, turned himself in Thursday at the Douglas County Jail after being summoned to appear in district court.

Wells is accused of hitting Lawrence resident Jeffrey Medis in December 2002 outside the Replay Lounge, 946 Mass. The incident initially was thought to be a hate crime, although Lawrence Police later determined it wasn’t.

Wells was released from jail on $1,000 bond and ordered to appear in court Oct. 2.

The District Attorney’s Office previously granted Wells immunity in exchange for his testimony against John Thomas Simmons, one of Medis’ friends who was the first to be charged in connection with the fight outside the bar.

Simmons is serving a six-month jail sentence for his role in the incident.

Juveniles suspected in golf club thefts

A special task force created by the Lawrence Police Department solved a series of aggravated burglaries, resulting in the arrest of two juveniles.

The department’s burglary task force has been investigating more than a dozen garage break-ins on the city’s west side since mid-June.

Police said they had recovered at least $15,000 worth of golf clubs taken from garages during a three-month period. Sgt. Mike Pattrick said all of the garages were unlocked and open at the time of the thefts.

Information developed by the task force led officers to arrest two 16-year-old Lawrence boys on aggravated burglary and felony theft charges.

Both boys were arrested Wednesday afternoon and taken to the Juvenile Detention Center.

Police said they anticipated more arrests in connection with the string of burglaries. Officers are now trying to match the recovered golf clubs with their owners.