Wichita police halt traffic on Central as crews pull body from river
Wichita police said Friday that traffic on West Central from Nims to Museum Boulevard would be temporarily closed as crews respond to a report about a body floating in the Little Arkansas River.
“We ask all motorists and pedestrians to avoid the area and use alternate routes. Alternate routes to cross the river are at Douglas Street or at West 13th Street,” Wichita police posted on Facebook.
Wichita police spokesman Officer Rick Pena said police officers, Wichita fire crews and EMS workers responded around 12:15 p.m. to a report about someone in the river in the 1100 block of West Central after city workers and a passerby saw the body and called 911.
“Fire rescue divers recovered the body from the water, and investigators are currently working to determine the circumstances surrounding this death,” Pena said.
“At this time, the individual has not been identified. The Sedgwick County Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the cause of death.”
Police think the person may have been homeless and are talking to other homeless people living in the area who may know who the person is or when they were last seen, Pena said.
It wasn’t immediately clear how long the person was in the water before the body was found.
Police ask anyone with information about what happened to call investigators at 316-268-4407 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.
“We ask the community to be patient with us. We will probably be blocking the area for about an hour,” Pena said.
