WPD speaks out after Hutchinson woman killed in stolen vehicle crash

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – A tragic incident occurred in northeast Wichita on Monday a stolen vehicle crashed into 43-year-old Mandy Buckwalter’s carresulting in her death. The driver of the stolen vehicle, 24-year-old Katelyn Barrioz, was hospitalized after the crash and subsequently arrested.

Sedgwick County court records show Barrioz is charged with first-degree murder in the commission of a felony, reckless but unintentional murder in the second degree, fleeing and eluding, aggravated burglary, theft and criminal damage to property. Charges against Barrioz were filed Thursday and her first court appearance was scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

Wichita police provided a timeline of the events leading up to the fatal crash Thursday afternoon. Police say video footage shows Barrioz driving the stolen van into oncoming traffic shortly before colliding with Buckwalter’s vehicle.

Officers first identified the stolen vehicle using a license plate reader and began following it in an unmarked car. When the vehicle stopped near Walmart at Rock Road and 29th St., officers approached, but Barrioz managed to escape even after police hit spike strips. A Kansas Highway Patrol air unit then began monitoring the vehicle.

Barrioz then abandoned the first stolen car and took off in a stolen white van, which eventually struck Buckwalter’s car near 29th and Wilderness, resulting in the fatal crash.

Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan said department policy prohibits officers from prosecuting a suspect solely for auto theft.

“This incident reinforces our pursuit policy,” Sullivan said. “It is a terrible, terrible outcome, but it is only a result of terrible choices made by the driver of that vehicle and not the actions of the Wichita Police Department.”

WPD updated its pursuit policy in July and implemented stricter guidelines in response to similar incidents.