An arrest has been made in the case of a traffic fatality in north Wichita.
The Wichita Police Department has said in a news release that a 16-year-old male from Wichita was arrested on suspicion of reckless 2nd Degree Murder and one count of Reckless Aggravated Battery, stemming from a fatal collision investigation that resulted in the death of Nancy Lopez, 28, of Wichita.
At 2:51 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon, Wichita Police officers were sent to the intersection of 23rd and Jackson for an injury collision. The officers found two vehicles with extensive damage.
The preliminary investigation revealed that an Acura MDX was traveling north on Jackson and a Nissan Altima was traveling east on 23rd St. collided in the intersection.
The Nissan was occupied by Lopez and another woman, 23, from Wichita. Despite the lifesaving efforts of the Wichita Fire Department and Sedgwick County EMS, Lopez was pronounced deceased on the scene. The other woman was admitted to a local area hospital where she remains in critical condition.
The two occupants who were inside the Acura suffered minor injuries, and the driver was booked into the Sedgwick County Juvenile Intake Center. Excessive speed is believed to be a factor in the collision, and this is the 31st traffic fatality for the year.
This case will be presented later to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office for formal charging.