photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

A Lawrence Police Department patrol vehicle is pictured June 28, 2022.

A moped driver was critically injured Tuesday morning after a crash involving a car in central Lawrence, according to police.

Lawrence police responded to the accident around 7:30 a.m. at the intersection of West 23rd and Alabama streets. The moped driver was critically injured, according to a social media post by police, and he was taken to an area trauma center.

Investigators have reason to believe the moped driver was wearing a helmet, but that it “flew off at impact,” according to the post.

Police spokesperson Laura McCabe said Tuesday evening that the moped driver was 57-year-old Tim Easum, of Lawrence, but she did not provide any further information about his condition. Easum, who goes by the nickname “Toad,” is well known in the downtown business community as a longtime delivery driver who uses his moped to deliver meals and other items to downtown business owners at their shops.

No other injuries were reported.