WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The man accused in the hit-and-run crash that killed Tad Doyle on Aug. 18 was charged by a judge on Thursday.
Christopher Johnson, 23, of Wichita, was charged with failure to stop at an accident resulting in death. The penalty carries a sentence ranging from 38 to 172 months.
Doyle’s friends and family rallied outside the courthouse, pushing the prosecutor to use “Levi’s Law” to charge Johnson with a higher-level felony.
“Levi’s Law” is named after Levi Ward, 29, who was killed in a crash in Wichita back in 2022. The Kansas Legislature’s website says it increases the penalties for leaving the scene of an accident when the driver knew or reasonably should have known the accident resulted in injury or death. It took effect in August.
“This is for, not only for our family and our friends but for the public as well,” Michael Poland, a friend of Doyle’s, said. “There needs to be some change in this.”
The crash happened around 2 a.m. on Aug. 18 near the intersection of 23rd St. and Hoover Road. Doyle was riding an electric bicycle with his girlfriend, Mindy Ward, when he was hit by a car that drove off.
Ward told KSN News that she was left helpless as the driver took off without stopping, leaving her boyfriend to die right before her eyes.
“So hurt and mad because they left, and I couldn’t help him properly or try to because I needed help moving him,” Ward said.
Doyle was pronounced dead at the scene.
Johnson was arrested four days later on Aug. 22. He is next due in court on Nov. 4.
