Garden City man seriously injured in single-vehicle crash

Around 4:30 a.m. Sunday morning, Officers of the Garden City Police Department, Garden City Fire Department, and Finney County EMS were dispatched to the 1000 block of W. Mary Street for a reported injury accident where a vehicle struck a building and flipped over. When they arrived, first responders found Jesse Lopez-Lira, 24, on the sidewalk with multiple injuries and his vehicle on its roof in the parking lot.

 

The investigation revealed that Lopez-Lira was driving at a reported high rate of speed along W. Mary Street when he lost control of his vehicle and struck a utility pole. The vehicle continued westbound before hitting another utility pole and spinning out of control. The vehicle entered the parking lot of 1014 W. Mary Street, crashed into the front of the building, and flipped over on its roof before coming to rest.

 

Lopez-Lira was ejected onto the sidewalk and later flown to Wichita due to the extent of his injuries.

 

The Kansas Highway Patrol assisted with the investigation. The area was closed for seven hours as the City water and electric departments completed repairs to damaged city property.

 

The investigation is ongoing.

 

*The person(s) involved has not yet been convicted of a crime and are presumed innocent. The presumption of innocence shall continue until such time that the person(s) accused may be found guilty by a court of law.*