Lawrence motorcyclist suffers serious injury in crash resulting from police pursuit

LAWRENCE, Kan. (KCTV) - A police pursuit in Lawrence led to road closures for several hours Thursday night.

The Lawrence, Kansas, Police Department said around 3:50 p.m., emergency crews were called to the area of N 2nd St. between Locust and Lyon Street with reports of a collision.

A Kansas Highway Patrol crash report said 26-year-old Dillon Herken was being pursued by law enforcement on a 2009 Yamaha motorcycle. The crash report said Herken made a lane change and rear-ended a 2022 Jeep Compass.

Herken was suspected to have suffered serious injuries in the crash, and was taken to a local hospital, according to KHP. He was wearing a helmet.

A driver and two passengers were in the Jeep Compass. KHP’s report said one of the passengers, a 27-year-old woman, suffered injuries.

Emergency crews indicated that traffic in the area had been diverted as the road remained closed while first responders arrived.

The Police Department noted that officers are helping the Kansas Highway Patrol, who is leading the investigation.

It’s unclear what led up to the chase.