Police Identify Mother, Daughter Killed in Crash

October 01, 2008

The SUV that caused the crash.

Morning Update 10/2/08:

Wichita police have released the names of the two people killed in the crash and more details about what happened.

Police say Claudia Mijares, 37, and her daughter Gisle, 4, were walking near Gardiner Elementary when a Dodge Durango that was driving north hit a parked car then hit and killed them. The Durango then hit two more parked cars and flipped over. Police say Claudia and Gisle died instantly.

Both the driver and the passenger in the Durango were taken to the hospital and should recover.

Police say the driver of the Durango had been drinking. They say they're looking at the driver's speed and the alcohol to learn more about what happened

The driver is from Butler County. Investigators are not releasing that person's name until an arrest is made. Police hope to talk with the driver today. They say murder charges could get filed soon.

by Chris Durden (WICHITA, Kan.)

A mid-day crash in south Wichita kills a mother and her four-year-old daughter. The crash happened around 1:15 Wednesday at Mount Vernon and Ida in south Wichita.

Location of Crash

Police say an SUV speeding down Ida hit the woman and her little girl. Investigators on the scene say the SUV hit several vehicles before flipping over. One witness told us the mother and daughter were thrown several feet into the air.

"These cases are difficult for everyone involved, even the officers and the firefighters. These are just tough cases," explained Capt. John Speers with the Wichita Police Department.

Paramedics took the two people inside the SUV to a Wichita hospital in serious condition. They've since been upgraded to fair condition. Police say alcohol may have played a role in the crash.

Dozens of people saw the crash, which happened right outside Gardiner Elementary. Police say the mother was dropping her daughter off at afternoon pre-school.

"I just can't imagine just taking your child to school like a normal day and then something like this happens," said Traci Macy as she picked up her daughter from school.

Another mom, Lisa Goddard adds, "I don't know how my kids will react but I know a lot of little kids are going to be scared."

School officials tell Eyewitness News students were dismissed at the normal time on the north and east sides of the building so they could not see the crash scene.

Grief counselors are available for students and parents to help them deal with the loss.

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