A Wichita man has been charged with first degree murder for a fatal crash at a west side intersection. 37-year-old Javan Ervin is accused of driving a truck that hit three other vehicles at Central and Ridge Road on July 6th. The driver of one of the vehicles was killed.
Ervin made his first appearance in Sedgwick County District Court on Friday. He was also charged with aggravated battery, fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, leaving the scene of an accident, and a misdemeanor charge of driving while his license was suspended or canceled. His bond remains at $500,000, and his next court appearance is scheduled for July 15th.
Police were investigating robberies in west Wichita when they got into a brief chase with a truck. The chase was called off but the truck continued on until the crash at Central and Ridge. A 34-year-old man was arrested in connection with the robbery investigation.
The crash killed 22-year-old Samantha Russell of Wichita. She was 33 weeks pregnant and doctors delivered her baby at the hospital. The baby, named “Mac,” was in critical condition.
