A 27-year-old Lawrence man was airlifted to a Kansas City-area hospital for treatment after suffering serious injuries early Friday morning as he attempted to drive away from a police officer.

Sgt. Trent McKinley, a Lawrence Police spokesman, said an officer attempted to stop Christopher Sellon at 1:07 a.m. for a traffic infraction on Ninth Street, but Sellon turned onto Sunset Drive, accelerated rapidly, then turned onto Broadview Drive. As he continued accelerating, McKinley said, Sellon attempted to negotiate a curve and his vehicle left the roadway, striking two bushes and a tree in a yard in the 800 block of Broadview Drive.

Sellon was first taken to Lawrence Memorial Hospital by ambulance, but McKinley said he was later taken by air to a Kansas City-area hospital for treatment. McKinley said blood test results are pending.

Journal-World news partner Operation 100 first reported on this story.