Beloved pre-med student, sorority member killed by hit-and-run driver while jogging

A “beloved” college student was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver while jogging in Kansas and her body wasn’t discovered for nearly 10 hours, according to authorities.

Elsa McGrain, 20, was jogging near the Lawrence Regional Airport around 6 p.m. Thursday when she was hit by a truck, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

McGrain’s body was not found until 3:35 a.m. Friday, after a passerby discovered her and called the police, cops said.

After processing the scene, authorities determined she had died while running in the area, police added.

Cops later located the suspected vehicle, previously identified in photos as an all-white pickup truck, and arrested the driver allegedly responsible for the fatal crash, the sheriff’s office said in an update Sunday. 

William Ray Klingler, 36, was booked on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter and failure to appear charges for the hit-and-run, KMBC reported. 

The suspect fled after allegedly striking McGrain, police said. 

Klingler is being held without bond, records show. 

McGrain, originally from Omaha, Nebraska, was a pre-med student at the University of Kansas slated to graduate in 2026, police said.

She was also a member of the Chi Omega sorority, where she served on the executive board as house manager, according to a heartbreaking tribute posted by her sorority sisters on Instagram.

“It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved sister, Elsa McGrain,” the sorority wrote in a statement.

“Elsa was the kind of person everyone wanted to be: genuine, kind, and full of light. She noticed the quiet one in the room, checked in on you whether things were good or bad, and was the loyal friend we all strive to be,” the statement said.

“She had a gift for making everyone around her feel valued and loved.”

Authorities thanked residents who sent in numerous tips leading to Klingler’s arrest, and confirmed they are working with the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office.

“The Sheriff’s Office thanks area law enforcement agencies for their assistance in this investigation, as well as members of the community who responded with possible tips and shared information,” police wrote in a statement.

“The Sheriff’s Office continues to extend our deepest sympathies to Elsa McGrain’s family members and friends during this incredibly tragic time and would ask the community to continue to support them,” the statement said.