Wichita foreign exchange student dies after crash near Cheney Lake; 4 others injured
A 22-year-old woman died and four others were taken to a hospital after a vehicle crash in western Sedgwick County on Sunday.
The woman was identified as Pratiksha Kunwar of Wichita, Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Nathan Gibbs said in a news release.
The crash was reported just after 7 p.m. where deputies responded to the intersection of West 21st Street North and 391st West, which is southeast of Cheney Lake, Gibbs said.
Kunwar was in the passenger seat of a 2012 gray Nissan Sentra driven by 22-year-old Varun Aithagoni of Wichita. Aithagoni was eastbound on 21st when he failed to yield at a stop sign at the intersection, the release said.
The Sentra was struck by a 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe heading north on 391st, according to Gibbs.
The man in the Tahoe, 36-year-old Brandon Schroeder of Cheney, and two boys ages 2 and 3 were taken to a hospital with minor injuries, the release said.
Aithagoni and Kunwar also were taken taken to a hospital; Kunwar later died from her injuries. Aithagoni’s current condition is not known.
Two other passengers in the Sentra were not injured in the crash. All four occupants in the Sentra are foreign exchange students who are residing in Wichita, Gibbs said in an email.
The crash is under investigation; no signs of intoxication were present.
This story was originally published October 16, 2023 at 1:18 PM.