By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
Sunday morning a vehicle crashed into Gross Memorial Coliseum at Fort Hays State University, causing damage to the interior and exterior of the building.
On the same day, Hays Police responded to a train versus vehicle crash involving a car with the same description.
At 10:15 a.m. Sunday, FHSU police were called to Gross Memorial Coliseum. They arrived to find broken glass and the doors at the east side entrance pushed down the hallway, said FHSU Police Chief Terry Pierce.
Warning: Coarse language - Courtesy video
“Upon arrival, university police began an investigation and determined that a vehicle had been driven up the ramped sidewalk on the east side of the building and through the glass doors,” Pierce said.
No injuries were reported at Gross Memorial Coliseum, he said.
“Evidence left at the scene indicates that a vehicle was driven most of the way eastbound through the hallway before backing out and leaving the same way it entered the building,” Pierce said.
Pierce said the Gross Memorial case is under investigation.
The Hays Police Department was dispatched to Eighth and Vine streets regarding a vehicle with one occupant inside being struck by a train sometime before 8:12 a.m.
A 2011 Volkswagon Golf drove onto the tracks and intentionally centered itself before the train collided with it, Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said.
That vehicle description matches the incident described at Gross Memorial Coliseum.
“University Police were able to identify the make and model of the vehicle involved based upon parts of the vehicle left at the scene,” Pierce said.
The driver of the vehicle was injured and was transported to Hays Medical Center before being taken to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Scheibler said.
The vehicle was heavily damaged, but the railway tracks and train returned to use after the investigation was completed.
The train incident remains under investigation. No charges have been filed at this time.
“Right now, our goal is to provide him medical treatment and get him the mental health services he needs. That’s our primary goal,” Scheibler said.
