“Fatal Crash in Topeka: Alycia A. Noriega, 33, Killed in Tragic Accident Following Seat Belt Violation”

Accident – death – Obituary News : A police officer in Topeka, Kansas, attempted to pull over a driver he observed not wearing a seat belt, but this encounter tragically led to a fatal crash on October 30th, according to a court document. The charging affidavit, filed against murder defendant Michael Shane Lester, states that the driver sped away from the officer. The Shawnee County District Court Clerk’s office released the charging affidavit last week in response to a request made under the Kansas Open Records Act.

Topeka police officer Jared Strathman authored the affidavit, which provides detailed information about the circumstances surrounding the crash that claimed the life of Alycia A. Noriega, a 33-year-old resident of Topeka. The document reveals that a uniformed officer, identified as “C. Allensworth,” was driving a marked patrol vehicle when he pulled up to a stop light at the intersection of N.E. Golden and Seward Avenue while heading southbound on Golden.

While both Officer Allensworth and a Dodge Durango were stopped at the light, with the Durango facing north, Allensworth noticed that the driver of the Durango was not wearing a seat belt and was attempting to put it on while waiting at the light. As the light changed, Officer Allensworth executed a U-turn while activating his emergency equipment to initiate a traffic stop, as stated in the affidavit.

However, the driver of the Durango failed to stop and instead continued driving. Officer Allensworth pursued the Durango, which went north to N.E. Sardou Avenue, at times crossing the center line and even passing another vehicle in a no passing zone. The affidavit highlights that Officer Allensworth considered the driver’s behavior highly reckless and deemed him a danger to the public. Consequently, Officer Allensworth deactivated his emergency equipment and slowed down until the suspect was out of sight.

It is important to note that Rosie Nichols, a public safety communications specialist for Topeka’s city government, clarified that the affidavit does not indicate that the officer pursued Lester. Instead, the officer initiated a traffic stop, but when the driver failed to stop and committed serious traffic infractions, the officer deactivated their lights and siren. The officer remained in the vicinity and later came across the crash site.

At approximately 12:09 p.m., security camera footage captured the blue Durango traveling west past a business in the 1300 block of N.W. Topeka Boulevard. Just a minute later, dispatchers received a report of a collision at the intersection of N.W. Tyler and St. John involving a 1999 Dodge Durango and a 2015 Subaru Forester. The affidavit reveals that the driver of the Durango fled the scene on foot.

Tragically, Alycia A. Noriega, the driver of the Subaru Forester, was transported by ambulance to a Topeka hospital. Regrettably, she was pronounced deceased at 2:43 p.m. on October 30th. Subsequently, police received information that Lester was located at a specific residence. At 11:44 p.m. on the same day, officers knocked on the door of that house, seeking permission to search the premises. After being led away from the basement, an officer conducted a search and discovered Lester hiding beneath a stairway.

Michael Shane Lester, aged 38, is currently in custody at the Shawnee County Jail with a bond set at $1 million. He faces charges that include first-degree murder in the commission of a felony, reckless but unintentional second-degree murder, fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer by engaging in reckless driving, failure to stop at the scene of an accident resulting in death, and interference with a law enforcement officer. Jail records also indicate that Lester is being held on a warrant from the Topeka Municipal Court for unspecified misdemeanors.

For further information, please contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934..