Passenger flown to hospital after wreck

An Olathe man was taken Saturday by air ambulance to University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, Kan., after an accident west of Baldwin.

Daniel Floyd, 27, was riding in a Ford F150 truck driven by Jeffrey Floyd, 29, when the vehicle struck a Ford Ranger near the intersection of U.S. Highways 56 and 59. The Ranger was driven by James Hargett, 42, of Baldwin.

Hargett and Jeffrey Floyd were treated at the accident scene by Douglas County Fire & Medical. Daniel Floyd was flown by LifeNet helicopter to KU Hospital.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation, but Douglas County Sheriff’s Lt. Kathy Tate said it appeared that Jeffrey Floyd had pulled out in front of the Ranger and didn’t have enough time to get through the intersection.

Daniel Floyd’s condition was not available Saturday night.

Crime

Injury, arrest reported in downtown melee

One man was arrested and another was injured when he was struck in the face with a belt buckle early Saturday during a melee downtown, Lawrence Police said.

Numerous police officers were called to the 800 block of Massachusetts Street where they found several people involved in the disturbance, Sgt. Susan Hadl said.

A Lawrence man was arrested after breaking into a victim’s car and fighting with officers. He was booked into the Douglas County Jail. Police were continuing to investigate the incident.

The man struck with the belt buckle, also from Lawrence, refused medical treatment at the scene, Hadl said, but his friends told officers they were taking him to Lawrence Memorial Hospital. No information was available about his condition.

Police said they didn’t know what led to the disturbance, which drew seven police cars to Massachusetts street shortly before 2 a.m.

Politics

Forum to feature area candidates

Candidates in four races of Lawrence-area interest will participate Monday evening in a forum at Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center.

Set to begin at 7 p.m. in the second floor community room at Bert Nash, 200 Maine, the forums will be taped by 6News for later broadcast on Sunflower Broadband. The forums are open to the public as space allows. Here’s the schedule:

7 p.m.: Republican incumbent Christine Kenney and Democrat Charles Branson, in the race for Douglas County District Attorney.

7:40 p.m.: Democratic incumbent Tom Holland and Republican Rich Lorenzo, in the race for 10th District Kansas House.

8:20 p.m.: Republican Roger Pine and Democrat Jan Justice, in the race for 3rd District Kansas Senate.

9 p.m.: Republican incumbent Mark Buhler, Democrat Marci Francisco and Reform Party candidate Jim Mullins, in the race for 2nd District Kansas Senate.

The forums, which will be moderated and involve questions from a panel, are co-sponsored by 6News, the Journal-World and the Voter Education Coalition.

Author returning to city to discuss Kansas woes

Thomas Frank, author of “What’s the Matter with Kansas: How Conservatives Won the Heart of America,” will speak next month at Kansas University.

Frank, who spoke about his book this summer in Lawrence, will speak again at 7 p.m. Oct. 19 in the Kansas Union Ballroom. His talk is sponsored by Oread Books and is free and open to the public.

The book is listed as No. 23 on the New York Times nonfiction best-seller list. Frank, a former Kansas University student, is now a contributing editor at Harper’s Magazine.