Two people ran from the scene — one after apparently being thrown from the vehicle — after crashing an SUV near 24th and Iowa streets this afternoon, witnesses told police.

Just before 2 p.m., the SUV was traveling westbound on snow-packed 24th Street at a high rate of speed when the driver lost control, hit a parked van, careened through a fence and knocked down a utility pole between the State Farm Insurance agency and Overfield Security buildings at 24th and Iowa, said Sgt. Trent McKinley, a Lawrence Police Department spokesman. The SUV came to rest in the parking lot north of Wilde’s Chateau 24, 2412 Iowa St.

Witnesses reported that one occupant was ejected from the SUV, then both occupants ran away, McKinley said.

Police were checking nearby buildings for the driver and passenger. Police blocked 24th Street, but the wreck did not affect traffic on Iowa Street.