Wichita man gets 2.5 years in prison in fatal collision case

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – A Wichita man who pleaded guilty in connection with a fatal collision earlier this year will spend 31 months in prison, which equates to two years and seven months.

The victim, 52-year-old James Dolton, was hit while crossing the street at Pawnee and Seneca on the night of January 8. Police discovered a gray vehicle may have been involved. They found pieces of the car at the scene.

Investigators used these pieces, a witness statement and surveillance video to lead them to Cody Cox, who they arrested.

In September, Cox pleaded guilty to failing to stop during an accident resulting in death.

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This week, his attorney filed a court document explaining what happened and asking for a lesser sentence for Cox.

“Sir. Cox was involved in an accident in which he struck a pedestrian crossing the street in the dark, in the middle of the block, during a snowstorm, where visibility conditions were extremely poor,” the attorney wrote. “Sir. Cox panicked and did not remain at the scene.”

The attorney asked the judge to give Cox a non-jail sentence or a prison sentence of less than a year.

On Thursday, District Judge Sean Hatfield sentenced 37-year-old Cox to 31 months in prison, with two years to follow after his release.

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