22-year-old man dies after ATV collision with deer

A 22-year-old man died Sunday after suffering critical injuries in an All-Terrain Vehicle crash in rural Douglas County early Saturday morning, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Lt. Steve Lewis said Monday.

The man and a 19-year-old woman were thrown from an ATV after striking a deer Saturday, Lewis said. A motorist found the ATV on its side in the middle of North 700 Road around 4:25 a.m. Saturday and called 911 for help.

Deputies arrived around 4:30 a.m. and found the ATV riders unconscious, Lewis said.

The crash occurred between East 1600 Road and East 1650 Road, near Vinland. The scene is about two and a half miles north of Baldwin City and about five miles south of Lawrence.

The man was taken by ambulance to Overland Park Regional Medical Center in critical condition. He died the next day. The woman was taken to Kansas University Hospital in Kansas City, Kan. She is in critical condition, according to KU Hospital.

Life Star and other medical helicopters were grounded the day of the crash because of inclement weather.

Further information about the accident won’t be available until the investigation and report are complete, Lewis said.

An earlier version of this story listed the man as the driver. Deputies have yet to determine who was driving the ATV, Lewis said, as they were unable to interview either victim before they were taken by ambulance.