Pedestrian flown to hospital, in critical condition following accident near 23rd and Iowa streets

A 29-year-old Lawrence man is listed in critical condition at a Kansas City-area hospital after he was struck by two vehicles at the intersection of 23rd and Iowa streets Saturday around 8 p.m., according to Lawrence Police Sgt. Kirk Fultz.

The man was transported by a LifeStar helicopter following the accident. Fultz said the critical condition status of the man was current as of 11 p.m. Saturday. The man’s name has not yet been released by police.

According to Fultz, the man was crossing the intersection from the north end to the south when he was struck by two eastbound vehicles. Lawrence police blocked off an area around the scene of the accident to control the flow of traffic at the busy intersection.

Lawrence resident Joseph Henderson was stopped in northbound traffic on Iowa Street with his wife and daughter when the accident occurred. According to Henderson, the patient had left the parking lot of Freddy’s Frozen Custard, 2030 West 23rd St., and was attempting to climb over the ice on the small island between the turn lane and westbound traffic lanes of 23rd Street when he slipped and appeared to fall hard.

He said the man continued to cross the street and was halfway across the eastbound lanes when a car traveling with the green light narrowly missed hitting him. The man jumped back and was then struck in the side by a truck heading east. According to Henderson the man seemed to roll over the truck and, though Henderson said he couldn’t see clearly, the man looked to have been hit by the next vehicle.

Medical crews worked to stabilize the patient in an ambulance before transferring him to a LifeStar helicopter that was waiting in the parking lot of Hobby Lobby, 1801 W. 23rd St. The patient was then flown to a Kansas City-area hospital for further treatment.

As of 9 a.m. Sunday morning, Fulltz said he was not able to provide additional details regarding the incident.

Check back to LJWorld.com for more information as it becomes available.