Man in East Hills Business Park accident fled from officer earlier

A 31-year-old Lawrence man who was injured Monday night in a one-vehicle accident at East Hills Business Park was being pursued earlier as a reckless driving suspect by a Douglas County Sheriff’s officer on a county road, law enforcement officials said Tuesday.

Sgt. Matt Sarna, a Lawrence police spokesman, identified Damien St. Julien as the man injured in the accident that occurred about 11 p.m. at the business park in the 3800 block of Greenway Drive on the east side of Lawrence.

Sarna said St. Julien was driving a 2001 Mazda that was traveling north on Greenway Circle. The vehicle left the road at the intersection with Greenway Drive, entered a ditch and roll on its side. Firefighters extricated St. Julien from the vehicle and took him to Lawrence Memorial Hospital for treatment.

An LMH spokeswoman said Tuesday St. Julien was treated and later released. Sgt. Steve Lewis, a sheriff’s spokesman, said before the crash a deputy pursued St. Julien’s vehicle in the 1400 block of East 1750 Road just east of the business park.

Lewis said when the vehicle turned into the business park, the deputy stopped his pursuit. According to the sheriff’s offense report, St. Julien was suspected of DUI, reckless driving, failing to yield to an emergency vehicle and transporting an open container, and prosecutors would make a decision about filing any charges.

According to jail records, St. Julien has not been arrested.