Structurally, Emporia State University’s student recreation center is sound, however, the facility is set to remain closed for an indefinite period.
That’s according to Emporia State University Facilities Director Bill McKernan who spoke with KVOE News Monday afternoon, almost 24 hours after a vehicle crashed through the building’s weight room on the west side of the facility. Following initial assessments, McKernan tells KVOE News the accident mainly damaged a load-bearing wall inside the facility as well as several pieces of exercise equipment.
A consultant company has been contacted and is expected to arrive Tuesday to handle the full damage assessment, cleanup and repair work and staffers are in the process of ordering replacements for the damaged equipment. McKernan says it is unclear how long the facility will remain closed, but when it does reopen the damaged area will be closed off to the public until repairs are complete.
Sunday’s accident followed a reported welfare stop by Emporia Police early in the evening. According to Emporia Police Captain Ray Mattas, an Emporia Police Officer attempted to stop a gray 2012 Acura for a welfare check around 5:45 pm.
Mattas says the driver reportedly fled from the officer traveling eastbound on 18th. The officer did not pursue the vehicle which was reportedly traveling at a high rate of speed as it entered the Emporia State University campus.
The vehicle then left the roadway for unknown reasons, went airborne and crashed through a wall on the west side of the recreation center trapping the driver inside of the vehicle. The Emporia Fire Department extricated the individual and transported them to Newman Regional Health with unlisted injuries for possible treatment and care.
The driver’s condition is unknown at this time and their identity is not being released to the public.
Nobody else was inside the rec center at the time of the accident as the facility had closed roughly 45 minutes before the events of the accident transpired.
12:30 pm Monday: UPDATE: Vehicle accident at ESU student rec center followed attempted welfare stop Sunday night
What began as an attempted welfare stop allegedly led to the vehicle accident that damaged Emporia State University’s student recreation center Sunday night.
According to Emporia Police Captain Ray Mattas, an Emporia Police Officer attempted to stop a gray 20212 Acura for a welfare check around 5:45 pm. Mattas says the driver reportedly fled from the officer traveling eastbound on 18th.
The officer did not pursue the vehicle which was reportedly traveling at a high rate of speed as it entered the Emporia State University campus. The vehicle then left the roadway for unknown reasons, went airborne and crashed through a wall on the west side of the recreation center trapping the driver inside of the vehicle.
The Emporia Fire Department extricated the individual and transported them to Newman Regional Health with unlisted injuries for possible treatment and care. The driver’s condition is unknown at this time and their identity is not being released to the public.
The rec center is closed Monday and possibly longer following the accident as staffers continue to determine any extent of structural damage to the facility. Nobody else was inside the rec center at the time of the accident as the facility had closed roughly 45 minutes before the events of the accident transpired.
7 pm Sunday: One to Newman after vehicle crash damages Emporia State student recreation center Sunday night
Authorities are investigating and one person was hospitalized after a vehicle crashed through the student recreation center on the Emporia State University campus Sunday.
Emergency personnel were called to the student rec center around 6 pm. According to a statement from Emporia State, a vehicle crashed through a wall on the West side of the facility for unknown reasons.
The driver of the vehicle was extricated from the vehicle according to ESU and taken to Newman Regional Health according to the Emporia Fire Department. Details on any potential injuries are currently pending.
The center was closed at the time and nobody was inside at the time of the accident. Due to the accident, the student recreation center will be closed Monday.
Damage estimates are currently pending.