Court appearance set for mid-April for man accused of driving drunk, smashing car into Lawrence optometry clinic

Leith J. Stevenson

A car came to rest inside the Lawrence Family Vision Clinic, 3111 W. Sixth St., Tuesday afternoon. Two customers inside the store were thrown across the room but not injured. The driver, a 27-year-old Lawrence man, also was not injured.

A car crashed into Lawrence Family Vision Clinic, 3111 W. Sixth St., Tuesday, March 29, 2011. Medics responded to two people at the scene of the accident.

A 27-year-old Lawrence man who is accused of drunken driving and crashing into a Lawrence optometry clinic Tuesday has posted bond and given a notice to appear later in Lawrence Municipal Court.

Lawrence police said Wednesday evening that Leith Jon Stevenson was driving east on West Sixth Street when he lost control of his car at 5 p.m. and crashed into a wall of the Lawrence Family Vision Clinic, 3111 W. Sixth St.

Two customers inside a fitting room were knocked across the room but were not injured, police said.

Stevenson was arrested and booked into the Douglas County Jail where he posted bond on DUI and reckless driving charges. He was given notice to appear in Lawrence Municipal Court on April 13.

The clinic posted a message on its website that said a drunken driver had crashed into the building but no one was seriously injured. The clinic expects to remain open while the damage is being repaired.