A woman who drove a pickup truck through a youth soccer game in Wichita, Kansas, on Saturday, killing two people and injuring 10 others, was released from custody without charges pending further investigation, authorities said Sunday.
The incident occurred around 3:25 p.m. at the Stryker Sports Complex in northeast Wichita. The driver, identified only as a 34-year-old woman from Garden City, Kansas, struck six-year-old Cole Adrian and 35-year-old Nicholas Schafer, both from McPherson, Kansas. Police confirmed the two were not related. Cole was a youth player, while Schafer’s connection to the soccer community has drawn attention due to his family ties and local involvement.
Along with the two fatalities, 10 other individuals sustained injuries. Among those hurt were five children ranging in age from five to nine, as well as several adults, including women aged 28, 59, and 65 and men aged 32 and 68. Police described the injuries as traumatic but not life-threatening. An additional 61-year-old woman experienced medical issues unrelated to the accident.
Emergency responders detained the driver at the scene, where she had two of her children with her in the truck; a third child was elsewhere at the sports complex. Investigators have since interviewed more than 30 witnesses, including the two children in the vehicle.
The Wichita Police Department said it is awaiting toxicology results and a mechanical inspection of the pickup to determine the cause of the crash. After consulting with the Sedgwick County district attorney’s office, authorities released the driver without filing charges while the investigation continues. Police noted the woman had a valid driver’s license and no outstanding warrants.
The tragedy has reverberated in both Wichita and McPherson. McPherson City FC, the competitive youth soccer club linked to Cole Adrian, described the event as an “unimaginable tragedy” in a social media statement, calling for privacy and support for the community during the grieving process.
Local officials in McPherson expressed solidarity in the aftermath. The city government posted messages encouraging kindness and unity, while Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan offered condolences to the families of the deceased and those injured. He emphasized the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to understand the circumstances behind the incident.
In response to the accident, all events at Stryker Sports Complex have been suspended indefinitely. The facility requested community members avoid the area to allow emergency personnel to perform their duties. The Kansas State High School Activities Association also postponed its scheduled flag football championship games out of respect for those affected.