Storm lights up sky, brings plenty of booms

Lawrence area residents were treated to an early fireworks show Sunday night when thunderstorms loaded with lightning and carrying heavy rain and high winds moved through the area.

Numerous power lines were downed when winds gusting up to 60 miles per hour blew through Lawrence. Some gusts of 70 mph were reported in southern Douglas County, 6News meteorologist Jennifer Schack said.

The combination of lightning and high winds caused scattered power outages, leaving 1,200 customers in Lawrence without power between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m., a Westar Energy spokesman said.

A total of .31 inches of rain fell at Lawrence Municipal Airport, where the city’s official weather records are measured. Although Lawrence was under a flood watch until 7 a.m. today, there had been no reports of flooding late Sunday night.

Law enforcement agencies were kept busy responding to traffic accidents, but no serious injuries were reported.

Storms are expected to end this morning.

Domestic-disturbance suspect wrecks car

A man sought in a domestic disturbance investigation Saturday evening in Jefferson County was injured when his car overturned near Perry Lake, according to law enforcement officials.

A few minutes after 5 p.m. a 1999 Plymouth driven by a De Soto man went out of control on a gravel road and went into a ditch and overturned, a Kansas Highway Patrol report stated. The driver was taken to Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center in Topeka. His condition was not available Sunday.

The Plymouth had been pursued by a Jefferson County Sheriff’s officer responding to a domestic disturbance, Sheriff Roy Dunnaway said. The officer had ended the chase before the crash occurred, he said.

The officer then drove up on the scene of the wreck on 130th Road just north of Kansas Highway 92.

Officers, firefighters are out for blood

Members of the police, sheriff and fire departments will be facing off this week for the “Heroes Behind the Badges – Battle for Blood” drive. The three agencies will be competing to see which can get the most people to donate blood.

The public also is encouraged to join the competition, which will take place Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Donations can be made at the Community Blood Center at the Orchards Corner Shopping Center at Bob Billings Parkway and Kasold Drive.

The facility will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday, and from 8 a.m. to noon on Friday.