Driver cited for running red light in wreck that smashed Liberty Hall storefront; others involved in collision identified

A crowd gathers near Liberty Hall video store, 646 Massachusetts St., after a car crashed through the store's entrance shortly after 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 9, 2016.

Lawrence police have issued a citation and have identified those involved in a downtown collision Wednesday that injured two people and destroyed the front of the Liberty Hall video store.

The wreck occurred about 3 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of Massachusetts and Seventh streets. Police Sgt. Troy Squire said it involved a 2006 Jeep Liberty driven by Kara Protasio, 23, of Lawrence, and owned by “Knology of Kansas,” now known as WOW, and a 2010 Toyota Corolla driven by Josey Stephens, 20, of Leavenworth.

Stephens and a pedestrian injured in the incident, 33-year-old Debra Drake, of Lawrence, were taken by ambulance to Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Squire said. Stephens was cited for running a red light, Squire said.

Boards cover the front window and entrance of Liberty Hall Video, 646 Massachusetts St., Thursday, March 10, 2016. Two people were injured Wednesday afternoon when a car crashed into the front of the store.

Lawrence Memorial Hospital records indicate both Drake and Stephens were treated and released.

Squire said that according to the accident report Protasio entered the intersection of Seventh and Massachusetts streets from the east. She then struck the rear-right panel of the northbound Toyota that Stephens was driving. Stephens lost control of her car, hitting the pedestrian Drake and a sidewalk planter before crashing through the front of the Liberty Hall video store at 646 Massachusetts St., according to the report.

The police report supports the account of the wreck that Protasio’s supervisor, Stefanie Bryant, news director for WOW 6News, shared Thursday with the Journal-World. Bryant said Protasio entered the intersection on a green light from the east and attempted to brake and steer to avoid hitting Stephens’ car, which had entered the intersection from the south against the light.

Saturday morning, Maggie Allen, the manager of the Liberty Hall movie theater to the north of the video store, was tacking a sign to the particle board sealing the video store’s entrance, which announced the store was open. Allen said the store reopened late Friday but that it would be about a week before the entrance and glass window destroyed in the wreck were repaired.