A man is dead following a police chase that ended in a vehicle fire in south west Wichita. It began earlier in the day Friday when police were alerted to a man who was exhibiting mental health issues.
Early Friday morning the man allegedly threatened his neighbors with a gun in the 500 block of N. Tracy. Police were called but the man, 30, left before they arrived.
At around 3:00 p.m. in the area of Maple and Seneca, the man entered a business and threatened an employee with a gun.
Friday evening police caught up with the man when he was attempting to drive back home. The man led officers on a chase, and fired his gun at the officers, who did not fire back, and there were no injuries.
The chase continued down 55th street where the man's vehicle left the road near Meriden and ended up in a wheat field.
It's believed that due to speed and the heat of the car's engine the dry grass was ignited by a spark, which quickly engulfed the car in flames. Fire crews were called, but the man inside the car died in the flames.
The man's name has not been released, and the case remains under investigation.