Alcohol

One person has died and another hospitalized after a motorcycle in west Wichita Friday. The accident happened just after ten o'clock Friday night at the intersection of Central and Tyler. Police say the driver of a pick-up truck pulled out from a stop sign in front of the motorcycle. Paramedics rushed both patients to the hospital, but the motorcyclist died a short time later. He was identified as 21-year-old Alex J. Weibe. Police say alcohol may have been a factor in the crash.

Wichita police say alcohol and speed were factors in an overnight crash that left a 56-year-old man hospitalized. Police say the driver was headed west on Harry when he failed to negotiate a turn and lost control.  He struck a barrier outside of a business. He was not wearing a seat belt and struck his head on the windshield. A passerby found the wreck and called 911. Police say the truck sideswiped the Afton Hotel on Broadway just a few minutes before the crash.  The hotel didn't suffer significant damage.

Wichita police say nine criminal charges will be filed after a liquor store compliance check Wednesday evening. Police say 30 Wichita businesses were checked, of them six sold alcohol to minors.  An additional three charges were filed for other liquor license violations. The businesses cited are Dave's Liquor Store (847 S Oliver),  Phillips 66 Gas Station (1250 S. Rock Rd.), Wichita Suites (5211 E Kellogg), Hilton Garden Inn (2041 N Bradley Fair Parkway), Noodles and Co. (3300 N Rock Rd)

Emergency crews respond to a rollover accident early Sunday morning in west Wichita. Police tell our news partners at KFDI a pickup was traveling west on Zoo Boulevard when the river struck the curb several times.  The vehicle rolled, and came to a rest in a yard near 8th & Kessler. One person was able to get out of the truck by themselves.  But the driver and another passenger were found unresponsive when emergency crews arrived on the scene. Police say there was a strong smell of alcohol coming from the inside of the truck.

By Rebecca Gannon (SUMNER COUNTY, Kan.) A party outside Belle Plaine ends with sirens, a teenager dies, after a combination of alcohol and drugs. Sumner County deputies say the teenager was hanging out with friends when he drank, and mixed prescription drugs. The only sound you can hear on 100th street in Sumner County comes from the wind. But on Saturday night, authorities think the noises at the white farmhouse would have been loud. First with the sound of teenagers drinking, then with sirens as emergency crews tried to save a 16-year-old.

Getting drunk drivers off the road is one of the main missions for the Kansas Highway Patrol. "We spend a great deal of time in that area," said LT David Hundley with the Kansas Highway Patrol. That's why when the latest numbers of alcohol related fatalities came out, they were surprised. "Obviously it's frustrating for us being as how it's one of our largest focuses," Hundley said. While nationally, the number drunk driving fatalities fell almost 5% in 2010, they actually increased in Kansas by about 36% and according to Federal Transportation officials that's the Country's second biggest increase behind New York.

Wichita police say speed and alcohol were factors in a motorcycle crash that sent a 32-year-old man to the hospital. Police say the driver was headed south on Maize Road on a motorcycle. He was racing with another car.  A 64-year-old woman was pulling out of a parking lot when the motorcycle struck her vehicle.  The woman was not hurt.

Two people are in critical condition after a car crashes into a utility pole overnight. It happened near 31st Street South and Broadway around 1:20 Thursday morning. Police say the car was headed south when it veered across the center lane and into the utility pole.  The force of the crash moved the utility pole around a foot and threw a back seat passenger through the windshield.  That passenger and another passenger were critically hurt, but police say they've since stabalized.

Wichita police say they believe alcohol was a factor in a crash that killed a Wichita State University student Sunday. Kari Rinehart from South Haven died in the crash at 29th and Woodlawn. Police say a driver swerved, sideswiped another car, before hitting Rinehart's car head-on. Rinehart's twin sister and her roommate were also hurt in the accident. Wednesday investigators said they found evidence that alcohol may have been a factor in the crash; they would not elaborate on what that evidence.

Wichita police say alcohol and speed were factors in an overnight crash that left a 56-year-old man hospitalized. Police say the driver was headed west on Harry when he failed to negotiate a turn and lost control.  He struck a barrier outside of a business. He was not wearing a seat belt and struck his head on the windshield. A passerby found the wreck and called 911. Police say the truck sideswiped the Afton Hotel on Broadway just a few minutes before the crash.  The hotel didn't suffer significant damage.

The events that led-up to Monday night's chase and shooting are marked in court documents and Jason Perez's criminal background. Jason Perez was booked into Sedgwick County Jail on Attempted First Degree Murder charges on Wednesday. He had been hospitalized since being shot during the incident on Monday. November 2012, Perez was sentenced in Johnson County on felony criminal theft and drug charges. Fifteen days later, he was released from jail.  The Johnson County Department of Corrections said he was sentenced to serve 12 months probation, with several conditions.

Plenty of citations, but no drunk driving arrests after a DUI Saturation Patrol hosted by Wichita Police Patrol South this weekend. Four officers and a supervisor were in the Old Town area between 10:30 pm on Friday an 2:30 am on Saturday morning. During that time, officers stopped 31 cars. 23 people were issued seat belt citations, police issued 18 other traffic violations, one minor arrested for being in possession of alcohol, two were arrested for having open containers and two were arrested for driving on suspended licenses.

Dozens of teenagers, parents and community members attended a town hall meeting on underage drinking Tuesday night.  But this anti-drinking campaign was different from others you may have seen. It was the presence of the teens themselves.  They didn't come as passive recipients of a message.  They were the organizers of the message and they made their voices heard. "I am aware that the problem is wide spread, especially in my community," said Akim Richards, a Sophomore from Maize High School and member of the Wichita Mayor's Youth council.

Update: Wichita police have identified the two men killed in an early morning crash in West Wichita.  The driver was 21-year-old Marcus McClellan of Wichita, the passenger was 22-year-old Devan Krausch of Wichita.  Police say McClellan was pronounced dead at the scene, Krausch was rushed to the hospital where he died. Police believe alcohol and speed were factors in the crash. ------------ Wichita police believe speed may have been a factor in an overnight crash that killed two people.

Four people were arrested early Friday morning after Wichita police broke up an underage drinking party in the College Hill neighborhood. During a morning police briefing Lt. Doug Nolte said, officers arrived at a home in the 400 block of South Clifton, where at least 25 minors were present and alcohol was being served. Two minors were arrested - one for possession of alcohol, the other for possession of marijuana. Two adults were also arrested for violating the hosting laws and furnishing alcohol to minors.

Two people are in critical condition after a car crashes into a utility pole overnight. It happened near 31st Street South and Broadway around 1:20 Thursday morning. Police say the car was headed south when it veered across the center lane and into the utility pole.  The force of the crash moved the utility pole around a foot and threw a back seat passenger through the windshield.  That passenger and another passenger were critically hurt, but police say they've since stabalized.

The man accused of firing a shot inside a Wichita clothing store appears back in court.  Friday, Jake Jacobs had a bond reduction hearing.  Instead of ruling on the bond, the judge delayed the hearing for two weeks so Jacobs can undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation. Jacobs is charged with four counts of aggravated battery.  Police say he fired a shot at a security guard at the east side Burlington Coat Factory Monday morning.  Investigators say he was upset after being confronted about not paying for a soda.

Kansas lawmakers have made it illegal to refuse a breathalyzer if you're stopped by police. Beginning July 1, the penalty for refusing to take the test will be the same as if you are convicted for a DUI. There is an exception. First time offenders can still refuse the breathalyzer and not facing a penalty. However, if you refuse the second time you're pulled over, you're breaking the law. Sixteen other states have similar laws making it a crime to refuse a blood alcohol test.