Wichita teen dies after vehicle hits tree, police want witnesses to call detectives
Police say a 19-year-old motorist who hit a tree in the 2900 block of South Oliver last weekend has died.
Gavin Phillips of Wichita “did not regain consciousness after the impact and was later pronounced deceased by medical staff,” a Wichita Police Department news release says.
Phillips died Friday, nearly a week after the July 1 collision, WPD spokesman Officer Juan Rebolledo said by email.
Phillips was driving south on Oliver “in a normal manner” on July 1 when he “took an erratic turn to the left” and struck the tree around 10:20 a.m., according to the news release. It’s unclear why he drove off the road.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found Phillips unresponsive in the vehicle.
“EMS and Wichita Fire rendered emergency aid to Phillips and transported him to a local hospital with critical injuries,” but he didn’t survive, the release says.
No other vehicles were involved in the crash.
Authorities are asking anyone who saw the collision to contact Wichita Police Department detectives at 316-350-3687.
The crash is the 17th fatal collision in Wichita this year. Phillips is the 17th person killed.
