The student recreation center at Emporia State University in Emporia, Kan., will remain closed for an unspecified period after a vehicle crashed through the building's weight room on the west side of the facility.
Facilities director Bill McKernan told KVOE News that the accident mainly damaged a load-bearing wall inside the facility, as well as several pieces of exercise equipment.
The school has contacted a consulting company to handle the full damage assessment, cleanup and repair work, and staffers are in the process of ordering replacements for the damaged equipment.
According to police, the crash followed a reported welfare stop by Emporia Police in the evening. An officer tried to stop a gray 2012 Acura for a welfare check around 5:45, but the driver fled from the officer. The officer did not pursue the vehicle, which was reportedly traveling at a high rate of speed as it entered the Emporia State 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 driverās condition is unknown at this time and their identity is not being released to the public.
