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Fatal crash draws charges in Atchison Co

By Brian Hagen

08/15/2023

Derek Wohletz/Credit: Atchison Co Sheriff's Office

(KAIR)--An Atchison man is in custody, facing charges in connection with a fatal traffic crash dating back to December, 2021.

According to a release from Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie, 38-year-old Derek Wohletz was arrested Tuesday on an Atchison County District Court warrant charging him with two counts of involuntary manslaughter, while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and one count of aggravated battery, driving under the influence while causing great bodily harm.

The arrest, and charges, stem from an Atchison County Sheriff's Office investigation that followed a fatal crash that occurred about 4 miles south of Atchison, on U.S. Highway 73, near Rooks Road, on the night of December 8, 2021.

The crash, that claimed two lives-26-year-old Felieca Paxton and 33-year-old Jovonnie Franklin, while injuring a juvenile passenger-was investigated by the Kansas Highway Patrol.

At the time of the crash, the KHP report stated that Wohletz was southbound on the highway when he drove left of center and struck the northbound car, driven by Paxton, head-on. According to Laurie, it's alleged that Wohletz was under the influence when he made the fatal maneuver.

Wohletz was already in custody at the Atchison County Jail on unrelated charges at the time of Tuesday's arrest.

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