Two Killed, Multiple Injured After Vehicle Plows Through Kansas Youth Soccer Game
A six-year-old boy and a 35-year-old man were identified as the fatalities after a pickup truck entered the fields at Stryker Sports Complex; the driver has been released pending further investigation.
Two individuals, identified as six-year-old Cole Adrian and 35-year-old Nicholas Schafer, died Saturday when a pickup truck drove through a youth soccer game at the Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita, Kansas. At least 10 other people, including children, sustained injuries in the incident.
The driver, a 34-year-old mother from Garden City, was taken into custody at the scene. Witnesses reported that she exclaimed, "Oh my God, oh my God, what have I done?" after being pulled from the vehicle by bystanders. Police stated that one of her children was in the truck at the time, and another was playing on a different field.
Law enforcement released the driver without charges on Sunday afternoon pending the results of toxicology tests and a mechanical examination of the vehicle. Investigators are continuing to determine the circumstances that led to the crash, and authorities have not yet indicated whether they believe the incident was deliberate or accidental.
Victims Adrian and Schafer, both residents of McPherson, were pronounced dead at the scene. Those injured were transported to area hospitals, with several in critical condition. Among the injured were two five-year-olds and a nine-year-old girl, as well as adults ranging in age from 28 to 68.
Emergency communications began receiving multiple calls around 3:25 p.m. reporting the vehicle driving through the soccer game. Responders, including Wichita Police, Fire Department, and EMS, arrived to find multiple casualties. Bystanders attempted life-saving assistance before emergency services took over.
According to police, the vehicle remained at the scene, and there was no ongoing public threat from the driver. Officials are appealing for anyone with video footage of the incident to submit it to assist with the investigation.
The tragedy occurred at a venue that hosts numerous youth sporting events. The Kansas State High School Activities Association announced that play for the flag football state championship, which was adjacent to the incident, has been suspended for the weekend.