Lawrence police responded about 1:26 a.m. Sunday to an accident involving a pedestrian and two vehicles in the 1600 block of Tennessee.
Police Capt. Bill Cory confirmed that a pedestrian, a non-Lawrence resident, was struck by a vehicle while walking on Tennessee Street. The victim was taken by ambulance to KU Hospital in Kansas City, Kan., with critical injuries. A helicopter was unable to fly because of weather conditions.
Sgt. Trent McKinley, a Lawrence police spokesman, said the pedestrian is 18 years old and more information regarding the incident, including names and specific circumstances, likely will be released Monday morning.
Blake Albrecht of Olathe was one of the first people to respond to the accident. He said that he was in a house across the street when he heard a loud crash. He went outside, where he saw the victim pinned between two Ford Explorers. The driver of the first vehicle pulled forward unpinning the victim.
"I grabbed a hold of him and tried to keep his head flat," Albrecht said.
It was unclear at the time whether the victim was attempting to enter the back of the first vehicle, or if the vehicle had stopped in the road.
Cory said that it would take a while before the sequence of events was clear because many of the witnesses were intoxicated. There were multiple house parties in the area.
"We had to deal with a large intoxicated crowd," he said.
It was unclear at the time whether occupants of the two vehicles suffered injuries. It was also unclear if alcohol played a role in the accident.
Comments
christy kennedy 8 months, 4 weeks ago
When something horrendous like this happens, the streets are filled with emergency vehicles and patrol cars of all kinds for blocks in all directions. But when I call 911 when there are literally hundreds of people walking (some staggering, many with drinks in hand) in the streets and in crowds on the sidewalks, and every few minutes somebody jumps into their car or truck and speeds off, weaving around the people in the street, I have been asked, "And you're calling because?" And I have been told that the city is divided up into a grid and that there is one officer, usually busy, for this area. Huge parties go on during certain weeks of the year and in good weather, on weekends, on game days, and everyone at KU and the city knows this. "Buddy" t-shirts and cautioning flyers are great but barely makes a dent. We are used to the noise and the mayhem (for all of you who plan on telling me to move to another neighborhood) but we will never get used to the danger faced by so many young people, some away from home for the first time. The student party areas are known and should be handled differently than some sleepy, residential area. Extra patrols are warranted, at a very minimum. These blocks where parties flow into the streets and fast-moving traffic are continually tragedies waiting to happen.
LarryNative 8 months, 4 weeks ago
I have been told that there have been multiple police foot patrols in the Oread area ticketing students for open containers and mip's for the last two weeks. The ABC has been in town hitting bars and parties as well. I'm not sure how much more policing the LPD can do in the Oread area while dealing with the rest of the crime going on in town with a drunk guy shooting up his house or a brave husband attacking an intruder with a frying pan. BTW, not all 20,000 students are drunk in the streets. Maybe 10% and of those, 1% behave like idiots.
mytwocents 8 months, 4 weeks ago
I have seen tons and tons of police, on foot, in cars all throughout the Oread neighborhood. This isn't about lack of police. We need lighting in the Oread desperately! The 12th Street new crossing on Kentucky & Tennessee is awesome. So well lit. With a crosswalk button to make the light turn on and force cars to stop for pedestrians. Why on earth have these not been installed at every intersection of Kentucky & Tennessee between 9th & 19th?! The sidewalks are terrible. The lighting is absent. Add alcohol to the equation and we're talking disaster. Try walking from Mass St to the 1500 block of Tennessee at 1:45am sober and see if you don't see the problems yourself.
Ron Holzwarth 8 months, 4 weeks ago
"force cars to stop for pedestrians."
Force? Really? I wouldn't count on that!
woodscolt 8 months, 4 weeks ago
yep
mommatocharlie 8 months, 4 weeks ago
but this is not the Oread neighborhood.
travelinggeek 8 months, 4 weeks ago
Christy, I agree with you. We love living in this neighborhood, and we don't so much mind the partying (until it is 2am on a weeknight and we have to get up at 5:15am), but hate the mess it leaves behind and the danger it creates. I walked to church today from 16th/Kentucky area. For the 2nd weekend in a row, the house on the NE corner of 16th/Kentucky had a huge party last night and the debris (plastic cups, bottles, cans) was scattered for a block and a half in each direction. Last week they had it picked up by the time I walked home from church, but not so this week. I know that college kids like to party, and that's fine, but since they are adults they also need to learn to be somewhat responsible about it. As to the patrols, Larry, the Oread neighborhood is fairly large. I am certain they aren't getting down to this area and are probably spending more time close to the University.
woodscolt 8 months, 4 weeks ago
"These blocks where parties flow into the streets and fast-moving traffic are continually tragedies waiting to happen."
Exactly!!! And every year, it seams, pedestrians are hit by cars in these areas.
cowboy 8 months, 4 weeks ago
And we set up lane checks on E. 23rd... And there are still few lights on Kentucky and Tennessee...
Priorities seem to be not disrupting the bar business downtown or these checks would be at 11th and Mass , 6th and Mass , Tennessee and Kentucky simultaneously.
greenworld 8 months, 4 weeks ago
Alcohol!!!
travelinggeek 8 months, 4 weeks ago
Also, I hope this individual recovers completely from what sounds like a horrendous accident. Personally, I don't think getting drunk is worth this kind of result.
mytwocents 8 months, 4 weeks ago
on the street last night we were told he was killed, but this report suggests otherwise. i dunno.
Hoots 8 months, 4 weeks ago
I was told it was a fatality as well.
redcoalcarpet 8 months, 4 weeks ago
Hearing this afternoon that the young man is alive but has apparently suffered a completely life changing injury...
kansasdaughter 8 months, 4 weeks ago
:(
justaresident 8 months, 4 weeks ago
A friend of mine knows the kid, he lost his legs :/ As of this evening, he is awake and doing well.
LadyJ 8 months, 4 weeks ago
I find it ironic that the LJW chose today to also run the story about the new website to connect "bars and barfiles" to the next party.
MacHeath 8 months, 4 weeks ago
Hope the kid is ok. Bad deal for the drivers of the cars too. Yeah travelinggeek..don't get drunk, as it is common to be pinned between two Fords. It happened to me several times when I was in college.
NickRondo 8 months, 4 weeks ago
I was there and before you guys judge me I wasn't drunk at all. I was just in the front yard with my friend, he was on the phone, and the first car pulled up in the right lane of he street and the kid ran to the car and it was the kids mom picking him up from the party. He was trying to put suff in the back of his moms trunk it was locked so he told her to unlock it all happens so fast I dont even know if he ever put what ever he had in the back of the car or not then the 2nd suv came flying in and I think the guy that got hit tried getting out of the way but not in time the guy drilled the car, the driver didn't step on the breaks at all and hit the car and pinned him I guess probably going around 35-40 mph. The guy that got hit was just out cold and for his mom I'm not sure if she was ok or not and I have no clue about the driver that hit them. I really wish I could've stayed and helped there were some kids that were there that said they were emt's and an ambulance was there within sec. I really hope he's ok though.
workinghard 8 months, 4 weeks ago
Heartbreaking, I imagine the second car had no idea the first car was stopped which is the reason he didn't brake the car. This happens all the time on up farther on Tennessee St to parked cars. The drivers usually say they didn't realize the car was stopped.
redcoalcarpet 8 months, 4 weeks ago
or maybe the 2nd driver was impaired or not paying attention...
cheeseburger 8 months, 4 weeks ago
+1
Pywacket 8 months, 4 weeks ago
Night, day, clear, foggy, whatever the situation, anyone who does not realize that the vehicle ahead is stopped--much less that there is a person standing behind it--is at fault. No excuses. If he couldn't stop--or swerve--he was going too fast for the conditions (night, or whatever).
Even if the woman had been stopped in the middle of a driving lane (which I doubt), and was partially to blame, it is incumbent on other drivers to be going at a speed and a level of awareness that would allow them to realize there was an obstruction in the lane and to stop before hitting it--or a person behind it.
I can't imagine what that mother is going through. Here she thought she was ensuring her son's safety by picking him up so that he wouldn't be tempted to take a ride from someone impaired, perhaps... and instead, some a--hat comes flying along and crushes him. Even if he survives and recovers, she will never get that horrifying event out of her mind's eye.
Amelia 8 months, 4 weeks ago
HIS MOTHER WAS NOT THERE.
Pywacket 8 months, 4 weeks ago
My comment was predicated on the information supplied by a purported eye witness. Either he or you are wrong. I can't possibly know which, but whether the stopped vehicle the victim was behind was his mother's or whomever's, my comments about the driver who plowed into it stand.
The speed limit on that street is 30. Even at night, if you're driving within the speed limit, you should be able to see far enough ahead of you to stop in time if something as large as a vehicle is standing in the road. (Whether or not a person is behind it.) Expecting the unexpected is part of driving. Cars break down. People or pets run out into the road.
Obviously, people can't avoid every collision, but most of us (if we're sober and paying attention) would realize that the vehicle we're coming up behind is not moving (whether it's stopped for an obstruction, a stop sign, or WHATEVER), and would avoid smashing into it. This guy didn't. Not good.
frankfussman 8 months, 4 weeks ago
If I stop in the street, I put on the flashing "hazard" lights.
Amelia 8 months, 4 weeks ago
His mother WAS NOT even there. His mother and father live in Wichita, Kansas. They got there by the time he was out of surgery. Both legs were amputated just below the knees.
Jayhawk_4_Life 8 months, 3 weeks ago
So you just decided to make up some story about his mom being there?
PhilChiles 8 months, 4 weeks ago
How about putting up speed bumps every ten feet on Tennessee and Kentucky streets? I'm only half joking there.
mommatocharlie 8 months, 4 weeks ago
Ah, please don't penalize the year round residents because the students living in the student ghetto don't have the sense God gave a gnat. Speed bumps are NOT necessary.
merrill 8 months, 4 weeks ago
With traffic moving fast on Kentucky and Tennessee there is every reason for more street lights on these streets.
Cyclists and pedestrians wear darker colors most often so why not do cyclists,pedestrians and drivers a huge favor. Light up the damn streets and be responsible. Kentucky and Tennessee have so many dark areas.
Furthermore I submit fiscally responsible use for those 1994 sales tax dollars that would benefit many.
Create hike/bike pathways on Tennessee and Kentucky. The right of way is available aka existing sidewalks.
Widen sidewalks on the eastside of each street to accommodate both cyclists and pedestrians and light them up. Students generate enough tax dollar revenue to justify the expenditure.
Provide cross walk signs and markings at each intersection from 7th to 19th to increase awareness for drivers. Decrease speed by 5 mph from 7th to 19th
In the process the city is making it safer for women = additional rape prevention.
The investment is small compared to the safety that could be provided. KU students are worth the investment considering the number of jobs they generate and tax dollar revenue they generate. Students bring life and culture to Lawrence,Kansas. Let's keep it that way.
90sgirl 8 months, 4 weeks ago
Judging by the driving I've seen in the past few weeks, I'd say it's too easy to get a license to drive.
Hoots 8 months, 4 weeks ago
They don't seem to punish bad driving like they once did in this town. It has gotten to the point that 4 way stops feel like playing Russian Roulette. I wish the police would get back to basics and send a message that if you want to drive like you're the only one on the street there will be a price to pay. I've felt safer driving in third world countries than I do here right now.
jafs 8 months, 3 weeks ago
There do seem to be a lot of accidents recently, more than I remember from previous years when the students arrive.
Frankie8 8 months, 3 weeks ago
WRONG! WRONG! The student ghetto is an area where students live. The tenents are not worse than anyone else in town. Some students party a lot, some don't. Can you really judge someones character by what part of town they get drunk in?
MarcoPogo 8 months, 3 weeks ago
You never went to the Crosstown Tavern, did you? :)
sunny 8 months, 4 weeks ago
Someone needs to teach all Lawrencians what it means to stop, look both ways, then cross!
ironhead80 8 months, 4 weeks ago
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
megabear44 8 months, 4 weeks ago
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
kernal 8 months, 3 weeks ago
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
ResQd 8 months, 4 weeks ago
I use to drive Tennessee Street going south every night home from work and it's a death trap for pedestrians. It is so dark and narrow on that street from 9th street clear to the end. I see shadows sometimes of people walking or running across the street and hold my breath every time. Because of the students back into town, I've decided to change my route. More lighting would help.
tanaumaga 8 months, 3 weeks ago
more lighting would help drivers see pedestrians, but pedestrians need to be looking for cars, which in my experience is very easy to do on both Tennessee and Kentucky streets.
oneeye_wilbur 8 months, 4 weeks ago
Corliss doesn't want more street lighting. The Parks and Rec tree crew need to remove trees. Too many and quite frankly the entire oread area is an overgrown urban forest. Corliss has publicly stated he doesn't want the alleys improved as no one should walk in them. Corliss is clueless.
As for the police, they should have long before now been on foot writing tickets. As for this incident, as I read some of the comments, why is a mom picking up her son from a drunken party. What gives on that, if that be the case.
As long a people are dumb enough to cross with oncoming traffic, they will get hit. Apparenlty, the mothers no longer tell the child to not cross the street until it is clear. Clear means just that.
Personally, if the city commisison had any ba&&&Ls. they would instruct Corliss to prepare a party ordinance that requires a permit to party and then the police can go right onto the property and cite the underage and ticket as well without the permit. There is no reason that any resident in their right mind would throw a party and let it flow ont the sidewalks. When the police are called, the dispatcher simply wants to know if it is loud, what kind of noise. My reply is that it is being hosted by deaf mutes. Send the police out and see if they can hear noise. Any party after 11PM with noise that can be heard more than 50 feet away is too loud.
What happened to all of the Good Neighbor fluff that Commissioner Carter and Ms. Tuttle at KU had distributed? Looks like it didn't do much good and won't.
MacHeath 8 months, 4 weeks ago
so, he should have had one of his drunken friends pick him up? Or driven himself? How do you know he was drunk? I didn't read that in the article? Maybe his Mom was drunk? Maybe his dad was home with a prostitute? Maybe you are a moron?
LogicMan 8 months, 4 weeks ago
Just asking: how can those bars operate in a residential neighborhood? Would it make sense to buy them out someday and to flatten the buildings?
flyin_squirrel 8 months, 4 weeks ago
What does this have to do with Neighborhood bars? If we know anything from the story so far, it is the person was being picked up from a party, and was pinned between a parked car and moving car. And the location of this accident is over a block away from the bars, and right next to some greek houses.
Praying for a healthy recovery.
Hoots 8 months, 4 weeks ago
They were grandfathered in years ago. These bars all went in before the zoning tightened up. If any of the structures is destroyed over 50 percent of something like that the property reverts to the common zoning in the neighborhood.
oneeye_wilbur 8 months, 4 weeks ago
Sorry, the bars have recently been rezoned and that is the new zoning and will be upheld.
LarryNative 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Logically your uninformed. A bar had 0 to do with this accident. I know all you Carrie Nation types always want to blame the bars but this was a private party at a house which are growing bigger and bigger because of the police presence in the bars. 18-21year olds drink alcohol, always have and always will.
Hoots 8 months, 4 weeks ago
Yeah, stopping for any length of time in a traffic lane on that street is just asking for trouble. I especially wouldn't do it at night. It's one of the darkest streets in town. People just don't use good judgement sometimes and too often it ends in disaster.
begin60 8 months, 4 weeks ago
Very sorry to hear this guy was injured . Best wishes for his recovery.
I was mowed down in a Columbia, MO crosswalk in broad daylight by a coed talking on a cellphone. She's like, "How else can I help you?... that fetching southern and lower Midwestern narrowly smug mindset again--- always so full of self-congratulation and totally blind to the true wishes and needs of anyone else.
It sucks to be a pedestrian in Lawrence. God, I've braved the streets and sidewalks of LO.A. and never felt nearly so unsafe.
begin60 8 months, 4 weeks ago
*L.A.
DillonBarnes 8 months, 4 weeks ago
You can edit your posts now!
Within a certain time frame.
MacHeath 8 months, 4 weeks ago
Again, I hope the kid is ok. His Mom must have been horrified! It always amazes me when posters rush to judgement, with little or no information. They always have to blame someone: bad things do not happen to good people. If someone makes a horrible driving error, they have to be drunk, too old, too young, or just plain stupid. I had a poster tell me outright that she had NEVER made any sort of error driving.
I am not saying there may not be some blame to be had. There is nothing in the article to confirm what that blame might be. Having lived in several different places along Tennessee and Kentucky. I will agree that there is a lot of pedestrian traffic at all times of the night and day. I had a parked car totaled on the corner of 14th and Kentucky. I agree that more lighting would be really beneficial to all drivers and pedestrians, over the legal limit or not. We want to save lives, right? Oh is it sufficient to just carp about stupid people and drunks?
MacHeath 8 months, 4 weeks ago
oh crap! I am agreeing with Merrill. Maybe I need my meds changed...
Ron Holzwarth 8 months, 4 weeks ago
10 mg of Damital every evening should help.
woodscolt 8 months, 4 weeks ago
Recently, I was driving south on Tennessee (of course) and 3 people were walking south on Tennessee taking up almost the entire east bound lane. When I slowed down and passed them, I rolled my window down and told them that if they were new to Lawrence they should know that walking on Tennessee street is very dangerous. They reacted very belligerently towards my comment so I left them with the comment with, Did you come to Lawrence to get a college degree or did you com here to get killed. I assumed they were probably college freshman that weren't yet aware of how dangerous Tennessee and Kentucky can be. Hope they actually do survive their time in Lawrence.
mommatocharlie 8 months, 4 weeks ago
pretty hard to take up the eastbound lane of Tennessee---it goes north and south
woodscolt 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Well, sorry for the typo but I think most people could figure out that there are two lanes southbound which would dictate that one lane is east of the other and one lane is west of the other. Hope that clears it up for those who couldn't figure that out on their own. Ill try to be more clear for those who are somewhat more challenged than others.
MacHeath 8 months, 3 weeks ago
oh yeah, ms. perfect again!
Sarah St. John 8 months, 4 weeks ago
I'm a mom of an early-20s son and this story horrifies me even more than most news stories have lately, and that's saying a lot. I feel literally sick. If the eyewitness report of NickRondo is correct.... oh, I can't even imagine what would be worse than witnessing something like that. We try to protect them from babyhood onward and then something like this can happen in a second. If the family, especially the mom, is reading this, please know you're in my prayers. My heart is aching for you.
Concerned20 8 months, 3 weeks ago
I too was very horrified by this accident. This young man is a close friend of one of my children and has such a bright future ahead of him.
Bon1978 8 months, 4 weeks ago
Yes, everyone does have a right to their opinions, and rumors will always be spread in tragic situations. But PLEASE keep in mind "this kid" IS someone's son, grandson, brother, cousin, nephew and friend. Is it too much to ask to be mindful of the grieving families at home for ALL those involved? He is a tremendous student and athlete with a bright future ahead of him, all reasons being why he chose to attend KU and live in Lawrence. Unfortunately accidents do happen and the circumstances around that are irrelevant. Positive thoughts, energy and prayers being sent his way would make much more sense than random gossip, blaming and pointing fingers.
mom_of_three 8 months, 4 weeks ago
you are new here, huh. sorry. Those of us who have lived here are frankly not too surprised that an accident happen, and maybe we like to propose new ideas so something like this doesn't happen again. But as long as college students like alcohol and to drive, its gonna happen.
megabear44 8 months, 4 weeks ago
That's all find and dandy, but where's the sympathy? I see so many posts where people have brushed past the horror of an accident where one's own son is crushed against their own vehicle and ends up losing his legs. What is it like to live with that? It would eat you every day. People are all arguing and making so many comments without a shred of sympathy that it shocks me to no end. Alcohol or not, this kind of thing (or other random horrors) can happen to anyone of us or our children. I would like to think empathy and sympathy would be the first reaction no matter who it happened to.
none2 8 months, 4 weeks ago
There are probably plenty of online readers who are praying for the young man as well as the driver of the first as well as the second SUV's. Maybe plenty of them didn't comment because they didn't want to be sucked in to the debate over alcohol, parking on the street, not stopping when a vehicle is stopped on the road, whether the trees being cut down or flood lights put on the street would have prevented it, etc....
I'm not surprised that people are upset and want to find a "cause" for this. That is human nature. From the description, It is a HORRIBLE accident, so yes they all need our good thoughts and/or prayers. I won't pretend to know what they are all going through -- most of us have never been in a similar situation. For the moment, I just hope the man gets through this.
mom_of_three 8 months, 3 weeks ago
sure, but we don't have to write it in the paper. most of us live here all the time and want to make things safer for ALL of us, including students. just because we dont wear our hearts on our sleeves or in every post doesn't mean we dont think it.
none2 8 months, 3 weeks ago
What a crude comment. So now anybody who does show any sympathy is "wearing our hearts on our sleeves"? The fact is nothing has been said about alcohol and driving, yet you go here jumping to wild conclusions.
Concerned20 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Amen! It is a tragedy that such an aspiring young man has been critically injured. My heart goes out to all the family and friends of this young man as well as all the people involved in the accident and the witnesses. I cannot imagine the struggle ahead of this wonderful family. We can only do what we can to keep our children safe and tragedies happen everyday even to those that are good people.
Jayhawk_4_Life 8 months, 3 weeks ago
you don't even know if alcohol was involved in this incident at all.
jafs 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Given the description of the event, I'd be extremely surprised to find that it wasn't involved, especially on the part of the driver who didn't stop and hit the kid.
mom_of_three 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Perhaps not directly involved in the accident, but its hard to get good witness statements when there were drunk students and parties all around AND THAT was from the article.
MacHeath 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Um , the dudes Mom was picking him up.. You don't know he was drunk.. All you do is make assumptions with no evidence, which are not yours to make, in the first place! Seek help, or your three kids are going to need it later in life.
kernal 8 months, 3 weeks ago
According to another commenter after NickRondo, the kid's parents live in Wichita and his mother was not picking him up. Seem to be conflicting stories by people who were allegedly there, allegedly know the victim and allegedly were sober. Let's just wait and see what the story update is after the police get the blood test of the second driver back, updates LJW and LJW is able to get an update on the victim from the hospital or his parents.
jafs 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Circumstances aren't irrelevant if we want to prevent or minimize these sorts of tragedies in the future.
For example, if the stopped driver had put on their hazard lights (if they didn't), the driver who hit them might have been better able to see them, and not hit them.
If alcohol was involved, especially on the part of the driver who hit the kid, that's a very relevant factor.
There are enough accidents in life that really can't be prevented - many of the tragic ones I read about in the Lawrence paper can be, if people pay attention and act responsibly.
MacHeath 8 months, 3 weeks ago
yeah, thats true. Bad things do not happen to good people.
jafs 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Since I never said that, I fail to see the connection between my post and your comment.
MacHeath 8 months, 3 weeks ago
and read your bible! every day!
jafs 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Another thing I didn't say or mean.
I do mean that people should use better judgement in a variety of ways so that we don't have so many preventable tragedies - is there something about that you disagree with?
Drinking and driving is foolish, as is drinking and wandering around the streets without looking, don't you think?
I would say that the majority of the tragic accidents like this that I read about in the paper are preventable, with good judgement and common sense, and I'd prefer people exercise those, rather than getting maimed and killed unnecessarily.
But, I guess that's not a sentiment you share.
Concerned20 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Amen! I am so glad to hear that this young man has a positive outlook on the whole situation!
Eride 8 months, 4 weeks ago
I agree with a lot of the comments regarding how unsafe that street is in general. It has very low lighting and there is no where near sufficient space between parked vehicles and the flow of traffic. Those two things combined can make it very hard to see pedistrians even if both pedistrians and drivers are acting in a non-negligent manner (which was likely not the case in the accident above).
I think it is time that the city do the right thing and cut down a lot of the trees overhanging the public easement and install sufficient lighting down the entire length of the street. Street parking should also be banned on both sides due to the considerable amount of traffic on that stretch of roadway. The individual harmed in the accident described above may have been acting negligently, and so may the driver, but that stretch of road is dangerous and further steps need to be taken to remedy the known problem.
jafs 8 months, 3 weeks ago
I would hate to see the trees cut down, but I agree more lighting might be better.
And, I agree completely about parking.
bniccole 8 months, 4 weeks ago
this is no surprise at all. I do not like driving the one ways, especially Tennessee Street because people just walk right out in front of cars who have the right of way, without even thinking. they just assume the cars are going to stop for them. so many people get hit walking or on bicycles because they do this......sad
kernal 8 months, 3 weeks ago
I've wondered about his water supply.
sunshine_noise 8 months, 4 weeks ago
Lord help us the Students are back. Every year this happens. Car accidents and someone been hit. I hate driving Tennessee and Kentucky when the weather is warm and the students are back because they just walk right out in the street, even if they see you, even if you are driving 10 mph. or less. Perhaps a class in itself needs to be taught to these kids about how to safety cross the street. They're are not the only ones who live in this town. I try not to drive at night for fear of hitting one of these kids. And Ho-Ha why do we let this town promote party buses, and traveling bars that only encourage drinking - not to mention all the freakin bars in this town. Wonder how many alcoholics come out of this town when or if these kids finish college? I'm becoming insensitized to this now - especially this time of year because I expect it...this is no surprise. What next? Afterall did anyone view the poll asking if folks were looking forward to student's returning because the majority voted NO. Something has to change.
Jayhawk_4_Life 8 months, 3 weeks ago
like the university not being here? move to Eudora
oneeye_wilbur 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Just a matter of time before someone is run over while they sit on the curb after leaving The Cave. Talk about poorly lit, those "fancy" old tyme lights on the east side of Indiana are about as worthless as a small flashlight. The same lights as are on the lighted pathway which is nothing more than to direct folks to the hotel. 11th street is the main pathway and now with the new apartments at 11th and Indiana even more so. You can bet that KU makes sure trees are trimmed and removed and the area is correctly and properly lighted.
The five city commissioners do not have the b^&&&lls to instruct Crystal Miles to chop down trees on Tennessee and Kentucky. The only trees that get removed are the ones on Mass st, the protected shopping area for which those owners and merchants deem to believe is the holy grail of shopping.
When we have commissioners and a mayor that cannot even keep the downtown parking lots clean, trees trimmed and lights working, why would anyone really think they are going to do anything about Tennessee and/or Kentucky.
This will become another fiasco as was the Jason Wren episode. A case where the kid got booted from the dorms and the daddy came and went drinking with him and then moved him into a frat house.
Not sure what really happened on Tennessee st and the police won't really know either, but some dimwit owns the property where a party was and that owner like many others don't care what happens on the property as long as the rent flows.
Wilbur doesn't own any rentals in Lawrence, got rid of them but nonethless knows those who do and has told those owners repeatedly to get their collective butts out of bed at 3am and check on the places.
Sunshine says teach them in a class about how to cross the street? Sounds good, just like a class to not climb on a roof when drunk. The best lesson is to toss an egg in the street and watch it crack and splatter. There you have the lesson.
I am always reminded of my late aunt who with her husband had a son who was sent to VietNam. He died and I visited with my aunt about hit before her death, how she blamed no one accepted the death as best as she could but told me "we were very lucky, his whole body came home"..
End of story.
KoSho 8 months, 3 weeks ago
I grew up with the young man who was critically injured and have been notified of much of his progress. He is a young man of so much strength and courage and his outlook and attitude right now are beyond inspiring. He has the support of an entire community backing him up and we are all rooting for him. He knows that his life is going to be extremely different from now on but he believes this is somehow part of God's plan for him. His first statement after learning of his losses was "there was a double amputy that ran in the Olympics this year." He is determined to overcome this and to do great things with it. He had originally hoped to walk on to the KU track team later this year. However, circumstances have changed. He is dedicated to doing whatever it takes to regain his athleticism and achieve his goals. Continued thoughts and prayers for the family would be greatly appreciated. Please also think about the young man before hastily casting judgement. While the details of the incident may not be clear, the effects are. Please remember that he is an athlete, SON, BROTHER, NEWPHEW, GRANDSON, COUSIN, AND FRIEND to so many people. This is a circumstance that no one deserves and no matter what the details of the accident itself, it is going to be a long road to recovery both physically AND emotionally for this young man. Again, please remember he and his family in your prayers and thoughts. Rooting for #9!
wowzersdude 8 months, 3 weeks ago
right on.
Haiku_Cuckoo 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Great post. Let the young man know that there are lots of strangers wishing him a speedy recovery. It will be an adjustment but he sounds like the kind of guy that makes lemonade when he gets lemons. They can take his legs but they can't take his winning attitude.
Concerned20 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Amen! So well put. He is a wonderful young man and I am so happy that he has such a positive attitude after such a tragedy. His family and all his friends are in my thoughts and prayers!
Syracuse65 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Rock On, #9!! Your hometown is praying for your continued recovery! Keep your head up and your eye on the prize!
mom_of_three 8 months, 3 weeks ago
wichita paper has already released his name. sounds like his head is in a good spot.
Clickker 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Colby Liston. He was going to be a track athlete at KU this spring, per the Wichita eagle.
none2 8 months, 3 weeks ago
He was from Derby which is a few miles south of Wichita. Here is a good article about the young man.
http://www.derbyinformer.com/news/former-football-player-injured
woodscolt 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Here is a stab at what may have happened. The young man from derby was crossing the street and rather than walking in front of the car, he walked behind it and in the meantime an inattentive driver rear ended the car the man was walking behind. Man , such a sad sad way for this young mans college life to begin. Best of luck in your recovery and life as it now is.
none2 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Woodscolt,
Read the early post by NickRondo. It sounds like the first SUV stopped to pick him up and had opened up the back of the SUV to let him throw his stuff in. While later posts throw doubt as to whether the first SUV had his mother as the driver, otherwise it seems rather plausible. We don't know all the facts, but it sounds like the first driver took a risk picking up someone from the street itself. You would think the second driver would realize that the vehicle in front of it was stopped. I doubt the first driver thought to put on the flashing lights, but you would still think the second driver would realize that a vehicle in front was not moving. Again, we need to wait for a full report to know some of these details.
jafs 8 months, 3 weeks ago
From what I've read, the stopped driver absolutely should have put on their hazard lights.
And, the second driver should have seen the other car - I strongly suspect alcohol was involved with their failure to do so.
Nobody's perfect, of course, but not everybody runs into stopped cars in front of them either.
MacHeath 8 months, 3 weeks ago
For Christ's sake! I give up!
Good to hear the kid is ok, and has a good attitude about what happened to him. I hope his Mom doesn't blame herself. I hope the driver of the second vehicle is ok, as we are all capable of lapses in attention.....except for Mommaofcharlie, who is a perfect driver.
I mean, she is ALWAYS at the top of her game! A woman to be admired! And old one-eye-head! Danged kids anyway! I say, round em up and put em in a concentration camp! I mean, nothing good happens after midnight? Am I right? If those darned folks were home, where they should be, none of this would have happened, in the first place! Lock your doors, grab your pistol, turn on your hazard lights, and bundle up with the Good Book crooked in your arm!
Frankie8 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Best post on here. Thank you! Maybe Roe could see Momma some tinfoil so she could make some sort of hat out of her Good Book.
none2 8 months, 3 weeks ago
There are some other good options for those with insomnia past midnight:
2) Rely on cruise control and read from the Good Book while driving. Just like we now know that women don't get pregnant from rape, pedestrians don't get hit by Bible reading drivers. Call it the Missourah solution.
nasto 8 months, 3 weeks ago
This whole this is stupid. I was in the car behind the Explorer that hit the kid. The driver was so drunk his friends had to pull him out of the car and set his drunk @$$ on the sidewalk. In the meantime everyone that was in the second car did nothing to help the kid, they all took of running and starting dumping out all their alcoholic drinks in the lawn and girls opened the hatch and started running coolers into a nearby house. I hope the driver gets full convinction for what he did plus some. Whats pathetic is all the drunk college kids that witnessed the whole thing did not every speak up and tell anyone about the amount of booze that came out of the second car, they's rather pull out their phones and video record everything. Should be ashamed that no one would tell the truth about what truely happened when someones life is at stake. The most screwed up thing was that the cops didnt even want to take a statement from us on what we witnessed, great police department there.
Haiku_Cuckoo 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Im sure the cops figured out there was alcohol involved pretty quickly, based on your description of the driver. Considering the circumstances, they would be more concerned about the driver's breathalyzer results rather than the kids you saw dumping beer on the grass.
nasto 8 months, 3 weeks ago
This whole thing is stupid. I was in the car behind the Explorer that hit the kid. The driver was so drunk his friends had to pull him out of the car and set his drunk @$$ on the sidewalk. In the meantime everyone that was in the second car did nothing to help the kid, they all took of running and starting dumping out all their alcoholic drinks in the lawn and girls opened the hatch and started running coolers into a nearby house. I hope the driver gets full convinction for what he did plus some. Whats pathetic is all the drunk college kids that witnessed the whole thing did not every speak up and tell anyone about the amount of booze that came out of the second car, they's rather pull out their phones and video record everything. Should be ashamed that no one would tell the truth about what truely happened when someones life is at stake. The most screwed up thing was that the cops didnt even want to take a statement from us on what we witnessed, great police department there.
none2 8 months, 3 weeks ago
If the police department didn't take your statement, then there should be some department or individual that you should report this to. A young man's life is forever changed, and from your description there was a serious criminal cover up to avoid responsibility. Not to mention the lack of human compassion that wasn't displayed. No amount of street lighting or tree trimming can prevent drunks -- and worse indifference to another human's suffering. I hope you don't give up on telling your story. This should not be covered up and forgotten. Those people should be ashamed of themselves.
Commenting has been disabled for this item.