A tragic accident in Wichita has claimed the life of 19-year-old Alejandro M. Tran, whose vehicle was found submerged in the Little Arkansas River on Monday afternoon. Authorities were alerted to the crash around 4:00 p.m. when Tran’s vehicle was discovered flipped upside down in the river near the intersection of 21st Street and Burns Avenue.
Wichita Fire Department responders quickly arrived at the scene, extracting Tran from the submerged vehicle and transporting him to a nearby hospital. Despite efforts to save him, Tran was pronounced dead at 5:02 p.m. Police confirmed that he was the sole occupant of the car.
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Investigation Reveals Possible Speeding
According to the Wichita Police Department, Tran had been driving westbound on 21st Street when his vehicle crossed multiple lanes of traffic, struck a tree line, and then overturned into the river. Witnesses at the scene suggested that speeding may have been a factor in the crash, although authorities are continuing to investigate the precise cause of the accident.
A specialized tow truck was required to recover the vehicle from the river, as the car’s position made it difficult to remove. The tow truck had to take an alternate route to safely retrieve the car from the water. In the meantime, 21st Street between Arkansas and Amidon was closed for several hours as investigators processed the scene.
Ongoing Investigation
The Wichita Police Department is continuing to look into the circumstances of the crash and has not yet released further details. The community mourns the loss of a young life, and officials are urging anyone with additional information to come forward.