2 men arrested following west Wichita chase, crash that killed pregnant woman

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - Update, July 7, 2021 - Wichita police arrested two men on Tuesday following a police chase and crash that killed a pregnant woman in west Wichita. Police identified the woman as 22-year-old Samantha Russell.

Shortly before 5 p.m. on Tuesday, officers were dispatched to a disturbance with a gun at a hotel in the 7500 block of West Taft. They arrived and spoke with a 35-year-old man who said he was robbed at gunpoint. The man said he was able to run away and saw the suspect leaving the hotel with another man.

Police identified the suspect as 34-year-old Jaime Chavez of Wichita, who was wanted in connection to a previous robbery.

Officers located Chavez near Maple and Ridge and arrested him. The other man, identified as Javan Ervin, left the scene driving northbound on Ridge. Officers chased him, but called of the chase due to the high speed and traffic conditions.

Police said Ervin continued speeding northbound on Ridge and failed to stop for the red light at Central and Ridge. His vehicle struck two other vehicles and a blue car – causing the blue car to roll. Ervin ran from the crash but was taken into custody a short time later.

Russell, the driver of the blue car, was taken to an area hospital where she died. Police said she was 33 weeks pregnant, and doctors were able to deliver her baby who remains in critical condition.

Ervin was booked into the Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility for felony murder, felon in possession of a Firearm, and aggravated battery. Chavez was booked on two counts of aggravated robbery (one from a previous case) and a felon in possession of a firearm. He is on parole through the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Update: One person is dead following a police chase and crash in west Wichita.

The Wichita Police Department said the incident started while officers were investigating a robbery near Central and Ridge.

They found the suspect in a white truck. While making the arrest, the driver of the truck drove off. Officers tried chasing the truck but called it off and went back to help with the arrest. Police said that is when the driver of the truck sped off, ran a traffic light and crashed.

Four vehicles were involved and one person died. The driver of the truck was not hurt.

Officers arrested the truck driver along with the robbery suspect, who is linked to at least two robberies on Monday and Tuesday.

Police said speed was a factor. There is no indication that drugs or alcohol were involved. The department stressed that the chase was called off before the crash occurred.

The Kansas Highway Patrol was called in to direct traffic and help interview witnesses.

Emergency crews are on the scene of an injury crash in west Wichita.

Sedgwick County dispatchers confirm one person is in very critical condition following a crash at Central and Ridge.

Eyewitness News has a crew headed to the scene.

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