Emporia, KS : Man hospitalized after Wednesday evening wreck on May, Wednesday 10th 2017

One man was taken to the hospital after the Buick he was driving crashed through a sign and two parked vehicles in central Emporia Wednesday.

At 5:14 p.m., scanner traffic indicated a cardiac arrest at 1417 W. Sixth Ave. — the Longbine Auto Plaza east lot. However, Emporia Fire Department Battalion Chief Eron Steinlage was unable to confirm the cause of the accident or the medical condition of the patient.

"We have one patient who we are taking to the hospital," Steinlage said. "He hit two unoccupied vehicles and came to a rest (in front of the Longbine Auto Plaza storefront)."

The vehicle driven by the patient cut through the Taco Bell parking lot just east of the auto lot, slammed through a "No Parking" sign while jumping two curbs and crashed between two vehicles, causing significant damage to both. One of the vehicles belonged to Longbine Auto Plaza Sales Professional Kelsey Bazil — who was working inside the store at the time of the wreck — and another was a Pontiac Torrent SUV which was for sale on the lot.

Bazil was sitting at the desk in the front office of the Longbine Auto Plaza building when the incident unfolded.

"I heard a really loud bang and then another bang," she said. "That's when I leaned over and looked out and saw him take out the sign."

At that point, Bazil said the vehicle was coming toward the building at an angle from which it would have crashed through the front windows. She turned away and ran from the windows to get out of harm's way.

"It was kind of terrifying," she admitted.

The vehicle eventually came to a rest about five feet in front of the storefront.

Bazil said about a dozen witnesses immediately rushed to the scene and attempted to aid the driver, though all of his doors were pinned shut. She said emergency responders "had to climb through the window" to get the patient out of the car.

"The police were here within a couple minutes," Bazil said. "I was very impressed."

The driver of the vehicle was taken to Newman Regional Health, which does not release patient information.

Source :
Man hospitalized after Wednesday evening wreck