SEDGWICK COUNTY– The Wichita Police Department has arrested a 24-year-old woman from Wichita in connection with a fatal crash that claimed the life of a 43-year-old woman from Hutchinson.
On Monday morning, officers located an occupied stolen vehicle at the Riverwalk Apartments, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.
Officers monitored the vehicle using unmarked cars, and air support was requested from the Kansas Highway Patrol.
Around noon, the vehicle stopped at Walmart, 29th and Rock Road. Officers deployed spike strips to prevent the vehicle from leaving, successfully deflating two tires.
Despite this, the suspect fled the Walmart parking lot, striking a police vehicle.
Officers did not pursue the vehicle, but KHP air support continued to track it from above. The vehicle proceeded to a business on North Webb Road, where two individuals exited the vehicle and fled on foot.
One individual was apprehended, while another female suspect stole another vehicle from the business and fled south on Webb, then west on 29th Street, according to Gupilan.
KHP Air maintained surveillance of the stolen vehicle, which, at 29th and Wilderness, collided with a sedan occupied by the 43-year-old woman from Hutchinson.
The woman was pronounced deceased at the scene. Police have not released her name.
The female suspect, a 24-year-old from Wichita, sustained injuries and was transported to a local hospital for evaluation. She will later be booked into jail on appropriate charges.
The Wichita Police Department's accident follow-up detectives will present the details of this case to the district attorney for charging consideration.