One killed, one injured in crash in downtown Wichita

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly spelled Sgt. James Buettgenbach's last name.

One of the city’s busiest intersections was closed to traffic much of Sunday afternoon and evening as Wichita police investigated a traffic accident that left one man dead and injured one woman.

The accident was reported at 2:53 p.m. Sunday at Douglas and Market, a Sedgwick County dispatcher said.

When police arrived at the scene, they determined two cars had been racing westbound on the street, said Sgt. James Buettgenbach, spokesman for the Wichita Police Department.

“It appears one lost control and wrecked into one of the walls,” he said.

He would not say how fast the cars were going.

One of the cars – a convertible – crashed into a limestone and steel tower. Debris was scattered on the sidewalk and throughout the street.

“There was a lot of chaos. A lot of people were out on the streets today,” Buettgenbach said of the accident scene when officers first arrived.

“It was a very tragic scene,” he said.

Buettgenbach said the female passenger was rushed to a local hospital in good condition.

The driver, who died at the scene, was 26 years old.

The driver of the second car has been contacted by police, Buettgenbach said.

This story was originally published January 12, 2014 at 5:35 PM with the headline "One killed, one injured in crash in downtown Wichita."