Two people on a motorcycle were critically injured Sunday night after the driver lost control on U.S. Highway 24-59 north of Lawrence.

Daniel Blazic and Christina Reed, both of Hoyt, were taken by air ambulance to area hospitals, Kansas University Hospital in Kansas City, Kan., and Stormont Vail Regional Health Center in Topeka, with life-threatening injuries.

The accident occurred about 5:30 p.m. Sunday near Midland Junction, between East 1300 and East 1400 roads.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, Blazic and Reed were traveling west on a 2008 Kawasaki motorcycle when Blazic, who was driving, lost control of the motorcycle as he tried to pass a semitrailer truck. Both were thrown into the ditch. Neither person was wearing a helmet.

Condition reports were not available Sunday night.