Officer's Lethal Driving Habits Get Wichita Sued, Twice

Killed a 12-year-old girl, seriously injured a motorist

The city has been sued twice over claims that the same Wichita police officer drove dangerously on duty, leading to the death of a 12-year-old girl in one instance and resulting in serious injuries to a motorist in another.

On Tuesday, a lawyer representing 23-year-old Juan M. Santiago filed a lawsuit against the city, alleging negligence by Officer Atlee Vogt and another officer in a high-speed chase where a fleeing driver ran a red light and struck Santiago, leaving him with internal injuries and fractured bones.

Although it appears from preliminary information that Vogt was driving with emergency lights and sirens, a high-speed chase wasn't warranted and was too risky for the circumstances, said Santiago's attorney, Blake Shuart of Wichita.

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