Traffic lights at two Lawrence intersections out because of vehicle accidents, one involving a school bus

A school bus and car collided Monday morning at 23rd and Massachusetts Street, police said.

There were no injuries but the accident damaged the traffic light at the intersection and caused significant traffic delays. The signal was still flashing red in all directions — a four-way stop — late Monday and was not expected to be repaired until midday or early evening Tuesday, interim city communications director Porter Arneill said.

About 7:30 a.m., an eastbound vehicle attempting to turn left from 23rd Street onto Massachusetts Street failed to yield to oncoming traffic and was hit by a westbound, smaller-sized school bus, Lawrence police Officer Derrick Smith said, in an email. Smith said a child on the bus sustained a minor injury and was checked and released by emergency crews on scene.

One student was on the First Student bus at the time of the accident, Lawrence Public Schools spokeswoman Julie Boyle said.

Boyle said paramedics examined the student at the scene. She said First Student contacted the student’s parent, and the student was then taken to Lawrence High School for school.

The school bus accident was one of two wrecks affecting traffic and stoplights at busy thoroughfares Monday and possibly into Tuesday.

Signals also were out at 33rd and Iowa streets on Monday. Arneill said that signal was expected to be fully operational Monday evening or Tuesday morning.

The traffic box and an electric meter at the intersection were destroyed in two-vehicle crash reported about 11:45 p.m. Saturday at 33rd and Iowa streets, Smith said.

Two passengers from one vehicle and the driver of the other vehicle were injured and taken to a local hospital, Smith said. More information on the extent of their injuries was not immediately available.

Alcohol is suspected of being a contributing factor to the 33rd and Iowa crash, Smith said.

Posted by Dawn Belles on Sunday, August 27, 2017