North Lawrence bar owner in hospital after car hits his bicycle, flees scene
The owner of a North Lawrence bar is in a Topeka hospital after a hit-and-run Sunday afternoon southwest of McLouth.
Frank Dorsey, owner of Frank’s North Star Tavern, 508 Locust St., was riding his bicycle on Wellman Road just north of 66th Street when a northbound car hit him around 4:50 p.m. on Sunday, according to a Kansas Highway Patrol crash report. The car’s driver, William Willits, 46, of Lawrence, then fled the scene, according to KHP.
Later Sunday evening Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies located Willits and arrested him on suspicion of leaving the scene of an accident, according to the Jefferson County Jail booking log. He was released from the jail after posting a $1,000 bond.
KHP officials did not immediately return calls seeking additional information on Monday.
Dorsey was transported to Stormont-Vail Hospital in Topeka, the report says.
A current condition report was not available from the hospital; however, a tavern employee said he’s on the mend with “a couple broken bones and ribs.”
The driver of the car was uninjured, the report says.
Despite Dorsey’s injuries, the tavern will keep its normal operating hours of 3 p.m. to 2 a.m., the employee said.
Further information was not immediately available.
I report on crime and courts for the Journal-World. I can be reached by email at cswanson@ljworld.com, by phone at (785) 832-7284 or on Twitter @Conrad_Swanson.