Driver flees scene of wreck near Sixth and Iowa streets / LJWorld.com

Archive for Saturday, January 17, 2009

Police locate driver in Lebo

A two-vehicle collision sent one woman to Lawrence Memorial Hospital with minor injuries Friday night.

January 17, 2009, 12:52 a.m. Updated January 17, 2009, 11:29 p.m.

A two-vehicle collision sent one woman to Lawrence Memorial Hospital with minor injuries Friday night.

Lawrence police Sgt. Ted Bordman said a silver Ford F-150 was traveling westbound on the 2200 block of Sixth Street when it crossed into eastbound traffic, striking the driver’s side of a white Toyota Camry. The driver of the Camry, Lacey Jo Cunningham, 21, Spring Hill, suffered minor injuries. She was treated and released from LMH. Her passenger, Lindsey Elliot, 21, Lawrence, was taken to LMH in a private vehicle, but refused treatment.

The accident severely damaged the Camry, and tore the hood of the pickup truck, though neither of its two passengers were injured. Emergency responders were dispatched to the scene at 11:59 Friday night.

Bordman said the driver of the pickup truck fled the scene on foot, leaving his passenger, described as a white male in his early 20s.

Lawrence police located the driver, Brett A. Walters, 22, Lebo, Saturday in Lebo, which is located about 60 miles southwest of Lawrence.

Police issued citations for leaving the scene of an injury accident, failure to report an accident, driving with a revoked license and several other violations. Bordman said police issued no citations for driving under the influence.

Discussion

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17 January 2009
at 2:06 a.m.

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1029 (Anonymous) says…

Pheww……..I have a strange (huff, puff) feeling (huff, puff) that the driver is safe (huff, puff) and sound….I think that the driver (huff, puff) will turn herself in tomorrow (huff, puff) because this is Lawrence, otherwise known as “the land where it is better to run away drunk tonight and turn thyself in tomorrow once thyself is sober and ready to take a slap on the wrist” (huff, huff, puff, puff)Praise Jesus.
17 January 2009
at 6:08 a.m.

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skinnee11 (Anonymous) says…

popcorn.gif
17 January 2009
at 8 a.m.

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redmoonrising (Anonymous) says…

Funny when the article said the driver left “his” passenger. Again, just semantics. But I think you might be right. Somehow I don't think that driver was thinking to himself, “Whew, I was just in an accident but I'm going to get my exercise today no matter what and it's already 11:59PM.”
17 January 2009
at 8:52 a.m.

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50YearResident (Anonymous) says…

Now the Journal World is making the description include the color of their skin when it makes absolutely no difference. J.W… try doing that on crime cases where it actually does make a difference and helps in catching the criminals.
17 January 2009
at 9:39 a.m.

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bndairdundat (Anonymous) says…

“Police are searching for the driver, who is described as a white male in his 20s.”Anybody know where heels007 was last night?
17 January 2009
at 10:03 a.m.

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Parrysmom (Anonymous) says…

I would think it would make a difference. If you are going to go that route 50Year… then get rid of gender too, because that doesn't make a difference either! So then we are left with….Police are searching for the driver….who is described as a person in it's 20s. Well that narrows it down! lolThey aren't being racist, just being descriptive.
17 January 2009
at 10:17 a.m.

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militant (Anonymous) says…

What this article is really saying is that the police want us to load up our vehicles with guns and ammo and help them search. And while they didn't go into as much detail, I'm sure the use of unnecessary force has been authorized.

17 January 2009
at 10:39 a.m.

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smitty (Anonymous) says…

This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
17 January 2009
at 10:49 a.m.

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beobachter (Anonymous) says…

see the LPD hater is still alive and spouting off.
17 January 2009
at 11:13 a.m.

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Yabut (Anonymous) says…

No, Smitty, we don't want. Everyone who's every spent any time on these boards knows how anti-LPD you are. This article isn't about the PD or Bordman. Please stick to the topic and not fill up these boards with your diatribe against the PD.
17 January 2009
at 11:17 a.m.

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Jeremy (Anonymous) says…

Seems to me the color of one's skin is important when trying to identify or eliminate potential drivers/suspects. Maybe someone who knows a college-aged white male who drives a F-150 pickup will call the LPD with information.
17 January 2009
at 12:29 p.m.

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Eride (Anonymous) says…

We need a statutory change that makes fleeing the scene of an accident a more serious felony so it deters drunk drivers from doing it to escape proper prosecution.
17 January 2009
at 12:34 p.m.

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mommaeffortx2 (Anonymous) says…

flaming get a life u been posting same thing all over it is boring and tired.
17 January 2009
at 1:27 p.m.

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newyawkertonMET (Anonymous) says…

So did the passenger know who the driver was? Wouldn't he be an accomplice if he didn't help the police identify the driver?Where, exactly, are the survivors buried, anyway?
17 January 2009
at 1:29 p.m.

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none2 (Anonymous) says…

The last hit and run was about a guy who left the seen to avoid a DUI after killing an older man whom the articles and/or comments brought up that the victim had a bit to drink. That killer just got a slap on the wrist.Though this victim hasn't been vilified, she didn't die. So when they catch the fleeing driver, will he get off with a warning to stay in his lane?

17 January 2009
at 1:42 p.m.

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misslawrence (Anonymous) says…

Well that just described half of the Westside…
17 January 2009
at 2:28 p.m.

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xbusguy (Anonymous) says…

Police are searching for the driver, who is described as a white male in his 20s, wearing the famed zebra coat. Topekens I tell you.
17 January 2009
at 2:36 p.m.

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Easy_Does_It (Anonymous) says…

Parrysmom - I will go you one further, to describe the fleeing life form as aged somewhere in the mid-20's does a dis-service to all those in the same age group. You can see the age bias apparent in other post.
17 January 2009
at 4:24 p.m.

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JOEHAWK (Anonymous) says…

So I guess they need to penalize people who leave teh scene more than drunk drivers. So they get to leave the scene 6 times before they get locked up???Leave the scene, automatic 6 months jail. Don't you only have to spend a night in jail if you are drunk?
17 January 2009
at 4:36 p.m.

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SofaKing (Anonymous) says…

Gosh, it's a long run to Topeka. Poor kid.
17 January 2009
at 7:20 p.m.

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bearded_gnome (Anonymous) says…

no update by now?no better descriptions of truckerguy or girlvictim. the PD has their vehicle registrations. no update on this at all. boy, its gettin' to be rollerderby out their on 6th. white guy in his twenties driving an F150. wow, that really narrows it down.
18 January 2009
at 1:05 a.m.

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Drew_Carey (Anonymous) says…

100 pts to xbusguy for knowing his hides.
18 January 2009
at 8:33 a.m.

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redmoonrising (Anonymous) says…

I don't get it. You're driving a truck, most likely your own, and have a passenger in there who probably knows you. If you're driving on a revoked license what does fleeing the scene get you but more problems? Obviously he has had some issues while driving already. Hope he makes it to “white male in his 30's” as well as those who ride with him.

18 January 2009
at 3:34 p.m.

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cheeseburger (Anonymous) says…

red - he avoided the DUI, and that seems to be the M.O. of the drivers around here involved in early morning crashes. I hope some of those other charges against him will provide him some time to think about some of the poor decisions he has made recently.
18 January 2009
at 7:27 p.m.

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Eride (Anonymous) says…

The problem is that the law for fleeing the scene of an injury accident isn't harsh enough to deter drunk drivers from fleeing. For instance, in this case the lady hit only suffered minor injuries so it is a misdemeanor. Most likely the guy, when found, will only get a fine and probation instead of the much more harsh penalties he would of received from getting a DUI. In this case…there is plenty of reason to flee and almost no reason to stay.Now if she had been seriously injured or killed it would of been a felony (this is a recent change to state law.. off the top of my head I think it came into effect in the Summer '07). Fleeing from an accident which results in the death of someone is a class 9 felony which carries a sentence of between 7-9 months at the judges discretion.Note: The judge can issue a departure sentence whereby the person is sentenced to something outside of the lengths I gave you…Now a lot of you might figure that is a ridiculous amount of time to go to jail for killing someone and it is… which is why if you do kill someone it is a VERY good idea to flee so that is the punishment you receive. If you stay and receive a DUI there is a good chance you will be charged with much more harsh felonies for instance one of the many flavors of manslaughter… :)No matter what the scenario… fleeing is always the right choice, even after the recent change to statutory law to make the penalties for doing so harsher… Of course people are going to flee when it does nothing but make their situation better, the problem is with our laws not with the courts.
18 January 2009
at 7:30 p.m.

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Eride (Anonymous) says…

I did want to add that I am actually not FOR fleeing the scene of the accident… the way I worded that post made it seem like that. I just want everyone to know why people are doing it… and that it isn't the fault of our DA or the courts but our statutory laws.
18 January 2009
at 8:17 p.m.

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Guardian (Anonymous) says…

Perhaps, among other penalties, there should be a mandatory three year suspension of one's driver's license for fleeing the scene—or fleeing from the cops for that matter.
19 January 2009
at 9:37 a.m.

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smitty (Anonymous) says…

What's the minimum suggestion for an intoxicated officer that hits a pedetrian then drives to the er with the injuried pedestrian? In Lawrence, it's some desk time and maybe a trip through rehab.
19 January 2009
at 10:23 a.m.

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somebodynew (Anonymous) says…

Well smitty, at least he wasn't a coward and ran off and hid. He rendered proper aid and stood up and took “his medicine”. Now, you may not agree with “the medicine”, but then anything less than life in prison for any officer would be too little for you.
19 January 2009
at 10:37 a.m.

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beobachter (Anonymous) says…

actually smitty favors the death penalty for all LPD people even for possible jay walking.
19 January 2009
at 10:58 a.m.

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smitty (Anonymous) says…

Double standards, unequal applicationof the same laws do not earn respect for LE. Responsibility that leads to accountablility escapes the cop roaches.

19 January 2009
at 11:03 a.m.

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beobachter (Anonymous) says…

Nobody should be living a life so hate filled as you.
19 January 2009
at 11:49 a.m.

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smitty (Anonymous) says…

****you really need to deal with your problem of denial of reality.****says… beobachter…..
19 January 2009
at 1:03 p.m.

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somebodynew (Anonymous) says…

NO smitty I think you are the one that needs to deal with your problem of denial. You actually belive that every thing about the LPD is illegal or immoral. Now, I will grant you that not everything they do is correct, but trying to tie everything to Sevier (which you have an obsession with) is just wrong, and I wish you could get therapy for.And in the particular case you mentioned in this attack, the person did what was to be expected. Rendered aid and faced the music. It is NOT the PD's fault what the justice system does. Gee, does the guy getting 14 days in jail for killing someone come to mind - not to mention the dude that left the scene on 6th street that killed a guy. Gee - I guess the LE got off easy, just like ANY citizen of Douglas County. But at least he didn't run away and hide like a coward - he stood up and took responsiblilty. Should we punish him for that???? (And yes I am sure you will say we should.)