Downtown victory party Saturday night goes largely according to plan

KU chancellor commends fans

Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little commended Kansas University fans for celebrating safely following KU’s win Saturday night.

“I want to thank KU fans for the class they showed in celebrating the Jayhawks’ Final Four Victory,” Gray-Little said in a released statement. “I also want to thank the nearly 200 law enforcement officers from around the area who helped ensure a safe celebration, as well as downtown residents and businesses for welcoming fans to Massachusetts Street. The nation was watching and the spotlight will be even brighter Monday. I know Jayhawks will show the same class after the championship game as they did last night.”

On Sunday morning, a gray Honda Accord parked in the 800 block of Massachusetts Street had a shattered windshield and a crushed roof, possibly from Saturday night’s celebration.

Saturday night’s victory celebration went over “as smooth as possible,” according to Sgt. Ted Bordman of the Lawrence police department. He said that no major damage or injuries were reported while the celebration was going on downtown.

However, it appeared revelers may have caused some damage.

On Sunday morning, a gray Honda Accord parked in the 800 block of Massachusetts Street had a shattered windshield and a crushed roof. Although there was no way to prove it, the dirt shoeprints on the dented hood suggested the vehicle may have been collateral damage from Saturday night’s celebration.

An LJWorld.com user posted a picture depicting a car that had sustained similar damage during the celebration. It appeared to be in the 1000 block of Massachusetts Street.

According to the Lawrence Police Emergency emergency call list, there were three calls reporting criminal damage in downtown Lawrence in the early morning hours following the victory.

There was also a single-car accident on Jayhawk Boulevard on the KU campus on Saturday night. There was one victim, the male driver, and he was transported by air ambulance to Kansas University Hospital in Kansas City, Kan. Officials were unsure whether the man was a student and said more information would be available today.

Things were much different in the college town that’s home to Saturday’s other Final Four victor.

The Associated Press reported that “a very dangerous situation” arose on the streets of Lexington, Ky., after the University of Kentucky’s victory over the University of Louisville. According to the story, people flipped over a car, set couches on fire and threw beer bottles at police officers.