Driver was going nearly three times speed limit in crash that killed a man

A Wichita man charged with killing a 79-year-old Air Force veteran in a March car crash was driving more than 50 miles over the speed limit at the time of the collision, according to an affidavit.

Tony Earl Epps Jr., 29, was driving 81 mph — nearly three times the posted limit — in the residential area of Maple and Osage on March 8 when his Jeep Compass struck Rockne “Rocke” Gene Lindemann’s Toyota RAV4, causing it to flip before it came to a stop on a nearby sidewalk, according to the affidavit. Lindemann’s name is also spelled “Rockney” in court records, but he is identified as “Rockne” in his obituary and in other documents.

Epps was taken to the hospital in critical condition, while Lindemann died at the scene, according to initial reports.

Multiple security cameras captured Epps driving west on Maple “at a high rate of speed compared to other traffic on the road,” according to the affidavit. Crash data from Epps’ vehicle shows the 29-year-old was driving 78 mph five seconds before the crash before accelerating to 86 mph. At the moment of impact, Epps was driving approximately 81 mph, according to the affidavit. The posted speed limit at the intersection is 30 mph.

Seven minutes before the accident was reported, a 911 caller said Epps was driving recklessly at Watson Park, according to the affidavit. The responding officer spoke with the caller, who said the vehicle was driving off of the roadway with its hazard lights flashing. The caller, who said he had a conversation with Epps, suspected he was intoxicated.

“He contacted the driver, identified as Epps, and stated that he believed Epps was under the influence of an unknown substance due to his slurred speech, repeating of statements, and appearing to be nodding off,” the affidavit reads.

The caller reported last seeing the vehicle exit the park and head north onto McLean.

After the crash, police tried to talk to Epps at the hospital, but he couldn’t because of his injuries.

When police later went to interview Epps at the hospital, officers reported that Epps “immediately became agitated and seemed confused about why he was in the hospital and how he had gotten injured,” according to the affidavit.

Epps has been charged with second-degree reckless murder and driving with a suspended license in connection with the March 8 crash. He was given and posted a $25,000 own recognizance bond at his first appearance and is due back in court on Aug. 27.

Sonya Strickland, the chief public defender for the Sedgwick County Public Defender Office, is representing Epps. They declined to comment on the case.