A judge has sentenced a driver to more than 19 years in prison for a crash in the northeast part of Wichita that killed a beloved Heartspring employee.
The victim, 43-year-old Mandy Buckwalter, died on Oct. 28, 2024, when a driver fleeing in a stolen van crashed into her Chevy Cobalt head-on, west of 29th & Webb Road.
24-year-old Katelyn Barrioz of Wichita, was arrested after being discharged from the hospital.
Police had called off the chase with Barrioz shortly before the crash. She was initially facing charges of first-degree murder, or in the alternative second-degree murder, along with fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, aggravated burglary, theft, and criminal damage to property.
Two weeks ago, she pled guilty to second-degree murder, fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, and theft.