Two separate motorcycle accidents north of Lawrence occurred at nearly the same time Saturday night.

A 47-year-old Topeka man was transported by helicopter to the Kansas University Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan., after his motorcycle ran off the northside of U.S. Highway 59 near the Midland Junction shortly after 9 p.m.

Lt. Kari Wempe with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said the man suffered critical injuries and apparently was not wearing a helmet.

The accident is believed to have happened when the driver hit a culvert on the side of the highway and then went airborne.

Wempe said officers are investigating whether speed and alcohol might have been factors in the accident.

Neither the identity of the driver, nor his condition, were available Saturday night.

About the same time, a 31-year-old male motorcycle driver was able to walk away from a minor accident on U.S. Highway 24-40 near Lawrence Municipal Airport.

Wempe said the man suffered minor scratches.