Update: This story has updated the suspect’s age.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Police say a 20-year-old man from the Sedgwick County/Butler County area allegedly stole a truck, ran from police and killed two people Sunday afternoon.
The victims have since been identified as 19-year-old Nathaniel Ashworth from Wichita and his soon-to-be fiancée, 20-year-old Alyna Elder from Rose Hill.
Police Chief Buck Buchanan with the Andover Police Department (APD) said they received a call around 2:45 p.m. for the report of a stolen 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 from a Dollar General in Andover.
“This lady had given this individual a ride from Towanda and, just trying to be a Good Samaritan, gave him a ride. So, she pulls into Dollar General to go do something, I’m not exactly sure at the moment, and this person took advantage of her and stole her truck,” Buchanan said.
Four minutes after the call, an officer noticed the stolen truck at Andover Road and Kellogg Avenue.
Buchanan said that is when the officer initiated a traffic stop, and a chase ensued. The Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) assisted.
The APD and the KHP terminated the pursuit when they reached Greenwich Road and East 47th Street South.
“63rd Street gets pretty heavy with traffic, so that’s when they decided we’re not, we’re done,” Buchanan said.
The chase lasted seven minutes. The suspect in the stolen vehicle continued south onto Greenwich Road.
“When he got onto 63rd Street South, at that point, he looks like he hit the guard rail. Looks like he lost part of a front tire and continued west toward Derby. As he was preceding towards Derby, he crossed the center line and side-swiped another vehicle and then went head-on with the vehicle that’s currently at the scene,” Buchanan said.
The crash ended at 103rd Street East and 63rd Street South.
The car that was sideswiped was a 2009 Ford F150. The 34-year-old driver was from Haysville. He was uninjured.
The car that was hit head-on was a 1999 Chevrolet S10 pickup. The driver, Elder, and her passenger, Ashworth, were both killed.
The driver of the truck that had been reported stolen, received minor injuries and was taken to an area hospital.
Buchanan says the department has spoken with the Butler County Attorney and the Sedgwick County Attorney. They are deciding what charges will be pending.
A GoFundMe has been set up for funeral expenses by Elder’s family. If you wish to donate to the GoFundMe, click here.