Wichita pedestrian battling for life after DUI-related hit-and-run incident

A woman appeared in court Thursday facing multiple criminal charges, including aggravated battery and DUI causing great bodily harm, after striking a pedestrian in a crosswalk Monday night. The victim’s family shared their emotional story with KAKE, detailing the severity of her injuries and the difficult journey ahead.

Katherine Slagle, 21, is currently fighting for her life in the hospital after being struck by a vehicle and suffering serious injuries. Her sister, Jessi Eldred, explained that Katherine recently overcame her fear of driving, earning her license just last week. However, without her own vehicle, she had been walking home from work on Monday night when the incident occurred.

“We just want her to be okay,” said Eldred.

Slagle sustained a traumatic brain injury, fractures to her shoulder, pelvis, and leg, and damage to both carotid arteries. Her family has shared that she remains unresponsive with extreme brain swelling and has a long recovery process ahead.

“That was the absolute hardest part of all of this— not knowing if she will ever wake up,” Eldred shared.

According to police, Slagle was crossing Rock Road at Lincoln when she was struck by a vehicle driven by 27-year-old Alexandria Rodriguez of Augusta. Rodriguez appeared in court on Thursday and is charged with aggravated battery, DUI causing great bodily harm, driving while suspended, and three counts of aggravated child endangerment. Police report that at the time of the collision, Rodriguez had three young children—ages 7, 4, and 2—with her. Fortunately, none of the children were injured.

Family members describe Katherine as a bright, caring person who loved painting and jewelry-making. Eldred expressed optimism that Katherine’s youth might help her pull through despite the severity of her injuries.

“It is the most afraid I have ever been in my life. But, we are hopeful and optimistic as the doctors are that she has her age going for her,” Eldred said.

The family has faced added stress as Katherine was uninsured, and Rodriguez also lacked comprehensive insurance. To help with her growing medical expenses, the family has set up a GoFundMe. According to Eldred, Katherine underwent surgery on Wednesday to repair fractures in her pelvis and required three blood transfusions due to internal bleeding.

In 2024, the Wichita Police Department reported 137 motor vehicle versus pedestrian accidents, a 35% increase compared to the 101 such incidents reported in 2023. Despite the rise in accidents, fatalities have remained steady, with 9 pedestrian deaths reported in both 2023 and 2024. This indicates that while collisions are becoming more frequent, they are not necessarily more deadly.

In response to this trend, the Wichita Police Department has implemented a new traffic enforcement plan designed to reduce collisions and educate the public on road safety to help prevent future tragedies.

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