Suspect accused of hit-and-run crash that left KU student dead is found: DGSO

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DGSO) says that the suspect accused of a hit-and-run crash that left a 20-year-old University of Kansas student dead earlier this week has been located and arrested.

DGSO said that their investigation led them to both the suspect and their vehicle on Sunday evening in an update shared to Facebook. The suspect’s identity will not be released until formal charges are filed.

20-year-old Elsa McGrain was hit and killed on the evening of Thursday, Nov. 6 while running on East 1500 Road in Lawrence. The accused driver left the scene after hitting McGrain. She was a pre-med student set to graduate in 2026.

“The type of person that you remember just being kind. We just don’t have enough kindness today, and she was just an incredibly kind young woman with all the best of intentions,” said Nancy Chartrand, McGrain’s great aunt, while speaking with FOX4 on Saturday. 

DGSO says that the suspect was found after “an extensive investigation,” which included tips from the public and other forms of evidence.

This is a developing story; FOX4 will provide updates as they’re made available.