Crashed truck removed from between guardrail, wall in North Lawrence
Drunken driving is suspected as the cause of a one-vehicle accident that landed in an unusual spot Thursday afternoon in North Lawrence.
A truck overturned and became wedged between a guardrail and a wall near Locust and North Second streets shortly after 3:30 p.m. It took crews more than two hours to remove the truck from its odd position.
The truck became stuck on the east side of the road, just north of the intersection. Two men, whom Lawrence police Sgt. Craig Shanks described as “highly intoxicated,” were northbound in the vehicle when the crash occurred.
The two men who were in the truck appeared unharmed. The suspected driver, Roy Price Bullard, 66, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, his third offense, and reckless driving, according to the Douglas County Jail booking log.
Bullard was taken away by police, and a case of beer and at least one open can of beer were visible in the truck’s cab.
Three tow trucks were on scene to remove the wedged vehicle. Crews cut off a section of the metal pedestrian railing before lowering the truck several feet to the road below.
A woman known to the alleged passenger picked up the man from the scene about two and a half hours after the incident. While he was waiting for his ride, he became belligerent with onlookers, head-butting one.
Shanks said no one reported the man’s behavior and police didn’t witness the incidents, so the man was not arrested or issued a citation.
“Absent fighting words, there’s not a lot (police can make an arrest on),” Shanks said.
About five minutes after the man left the scene, he returned to tell officers that he was the individual driving, not the other man who was arrested.
“Hey, guy, I was driving that truck when it flipped almost upside down,” the man told police. “Will you guys arrest me? I can’t let my father go down for this.”
The man was again released to the woman, but police continued to investigate the incident.
Bobbi Reid, who lives nearby and came to the scene after seeing a photo of the accident online, said the alleged drunken driving incident was terrifying for her as a mother.
“They are lucky there weren’t kids out there,” Reid said. “My kids walk this route all the time.”
Both northbound lanes and one southbound lane of traffic were closed while crews removed the truck. All lanes of traffic were open by 6 p.m.
Shanks said Thursday night city employees were working to place a barricade on the sidewalk until the guardrailing can be fixed.
A bystander said the driver approached him and asked him to use phone and told him the two "had a couple drinks." pic.twitter.com/eQ0onMPCN9
— Caitlin Doornbos (@CaitlinDoornbos) July 23, 2015
Man swerves while walking. Yelled at cop: "That truck is my life! It's upside down, stupid." Police doing an awesome job keeping their cool.
— Caitlin Doornbos (@CaitlinDoornbos) July 23, 2015
Truck owner has been verbally assaulting me and others on scene. He hasn't been arrested, as he wasn't driving. Other man was taken away.
— Caitlin Doornbos (@CaitlinDoornbos) July 23, 2015
Man just asked police officer for his keys so he could drive home. Truck is still wedged on sidewalk. Workers assessing structural stability
— Caitlin Doornbos (@CaitlinDoornbos) July 23, 2015
City engineers are on the scene. Two tow trucks here now. They're going to pull the truck up & over guard rail. pic.twitter.com/dM2QC42tIJ
— Caitlin Doornbos (@CaitlinDoornbos) July 23, 2015
Now the man is exposing himself. I think he's intending to urinate. This is a circus.
— Caitlin Doornbos (@CaitlinDoornbos) July 23, 2015
Check out these tire marks on the side of the cement guard wall! pic.twitter.com/WA7B0TrIjF
— Caitlin Doornbos (@CaitlinDoornbos) July 23, 2015
Tow company sawing of guard rail as city engineers look on. Guess they're trying this rather than lifting truck over. pic.twitter.com/3pttedU8vY
— Caitlin Doornbos (@CaitlinDoornbos) July 23, 2015
Northbound traffic on 2nd is completely blocked and rerouted. Southbound down to one lane. pic.twitter.com/ollEcHfi8E
— Caitlin Doornbos (@CaitlinDoornbos) July 23, 2015
They've got the railing down now. Onlookers are coming out in flocks. pic.twitter.com/SHNkWDEl6T
— Caitlin Doornbos (@CaitlinDoornbos) July 23, 2015
There are three towing companies helping out. One truck just took away the fence, two others are hooking chains up to truck.
— Caitlin Doornbos (@CaitlinDoornbos) July 23, 2015
First try and the chain snapped off. pic.twitter.com/8uJ2uiTF2u
— Caitlin Doornbos (@CaitlinDoornbos) July 23, 2015
Second attempt: pic.twitter.com/kUdVzC9SBi
— Caitlin Doornbos (@CaitlinDoornbos) July 23, 2015
Thar she blows! And the crowd cheers. pic.twitter.com/t5nxDRsVQo
— Caitlin Doornbos (@CaitlinDoornbos) July 23, 2015
And right there in the cab! I spy with my little eye an open box of Budweiser. pic.twitter.com/CUY3YH8ZO5
— Caitlin Doornbos (@CaitlinDoornbos) July 23, 2015
And an open Budweiser can on the dashboard. #DontDrinkAndDrive pic.twitter.com/mwCQMm9Yzn
— Caitlin Doornbos (@CaitlinDoornbos) July 23, 2015
Looks like the truck was a Missouri painting company's truck. Paint on side says "Affordable Painting." pic.twitter.com/zlO0VcGTpG
— Caitlin Doornbos (@CaitlinDoornbos) July 23, 2015
Northbound traffic has reopened to one lane. Police say as soon as the truck is taken from street, both lanes will open.
— Caitlin Doornbos (@CaitlinDoornbos) July 23, 2015