Driver released without charges after pickup kills boy, 6, and man on Kansas soccer field

Driver released without charges after pickup kills boy, 6, and man on Kansas soccer field

The full report

A 34-year-old woman was released without charges after her pickup truck drove onto a Kansas soccer field, killing a 6-year-old boy and a man, and injuring 10 others, according to the Wichita Police Department. The incident occurred at the Stryker Sports Complex in northeast Wichita on Saturday afternoon. The woman had two of her children inside the pickup, and another child was playing soccer on a different field at the complex. The victims who died were identified as Cole Adrian, 6, and Nicholas Schafer, 35, both of McPherson, Kansas. They were not related. Five children were among the 10 people injured, with injuries ranging from bruises to extremely severe injuries, though none appeared to be life-threatening. An 11th person was also transported to a local hospital after experiencing medical complications unrelated to traumatic injuries. The Wichita Police Department announced that the driver was released pending toxicology results and a mechanical examination of her Chevrolet pickup. The department is still working to determine more about what happened and why. Charges have not been filed at this time, officials said. The incident has shaken a soccer community built around families and teammates, with Sporting Wichita Academy thanking first responders, medical workers, and bystanders who stepped in to help. The academy wrote on Facebook, "Soccer is more than a game. It is a community. It is families in the stands, teammates standing beside one another, and people who come together through a shared love of the game."

The Wichita Police Department conducted interviews with witnesses and consulted with the district attorney's office before releasing the driver. The department is still working to determine more about what happened and why. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of youth sports, with some questioning whether the incident was intentional or whether a medical emergency, impairment, or another factor was involved. The district attorney's office told Fox News Digital that police are expected to make an initial case presentation to District Attorney Marc Bennett early this week. Following that initial case review, the office will share information as appropriate. The crash sent emergency crews racing to the sports complex, where bystanders had already stepped forward to help the injured. Adrian and Schafer died on the field despite lifesaving efforts. Ten people were taken to Ascension Via Christi and Wesley Medical Center with injuries police described as noncritical. The injured children included a 5-year-old girl, a 5-year-old boy, two 8-year-old boys, and a 9-year-old girl. The five injured adults ranged in age from 28 to 68. An additional woman, 61, was hospitalized for medical complications unrelated to traumatic injuries, bringing the total number transported to 11. A restaurant, Meddys, has pledged to donate 20% of all revenue from its Wichita and Salina locations from October 18 through October 24 to families affected by the tragedy. The business also offered free meals to the immediate families of those injured for as long as their loved ones remain hospitalized. The restaurant partnered with local nonprofit Kingdom Athletics Mission to receive and distribute donations to the affected McPherson families after people outside the area asked how they could help. Meddys said the nonprofit would manage both GoFundMe donations and the business' contributions. Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan also offered condolences to the families Sunday. "What should have been a day of children playing soccer and families spending time together ended in tragedy," he said.

A lot of families and children were on the field when the truck drove through, witnesses said. An attendee told CNN affiliate KWCH he was with his family when a black pickup truck jumped the curb and drove onto the field. Two people also described hearing a loud noise at the time. CNN obtained video that appears to capture the moment the truck entered the field. Children are seen playing soccer when the screeching sound of tires rings out. The woman filming the video, and others nearby, begin to scream. The video shakes as she and those around her flee. Vanessa Trammell was at her 13-year-old son's soccer game nearby when she saw the truck drive across the neighboring field, striking several people, she told CNN. "We thought it was going to stop but then it like kept going," she said. Her son's soccer game had just ended, and the team was in a huddle on the sidelines when the truck drove near the sidelines, she said.

The incident has raised concerns about the safety of youth sports, with some questioning whether the incident was intentional or whether a medical emergency, impairment, or another factor was involved. The district attorney's office told Fox News Digital that police are expected to make an initial case presentation to District Attorney Marc Bennett early this week. Following that initial case review, the office will share information as appropriate. The crash sent emergency crews racing to the sports complex, where bystanders had already stepped forward to help the injured. Adrian and Schafer died on the field despite lifesaving efforts. Ten people were taken to Ascension Via Christi and Wesley Medical Center with injuries police described as noncritical. The injured children included a 5-year-old girl, a 5-year-old boy, two 8-year-old boys, and a 9-year-old girl. The five injured adults ranged in age from 28 to 68. An additional woman, 61, was hospitalized for medical complications unrelated to traumatic injuries, bringing the total number transported to 11. A restaurant, Meddys, has pledged to donate 20% of all revenue from its Wichita and Salina locations from October 18 through October 24 to families affected by the tragedy. The business also offered free meals to the immediate families of those injured for as long as their loved ones remain hospitalized. The restaurant partnered with local nonprofit Kingdom Athletics Mission to receive and distribute donations to the affected McPherson families after people outside the area asked how they could help. Meddys said the nonprofit would manage both GoFundMe donations and the business' contributions. Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan also offered condolences to the families Sunday. "What should have been a day of children playing soccer and families spending time together ended in tragedy," he said.

The incident has shaken a soccer community built around families and teammates, with Sporting Wichita Academy thanking first responders, medical workers, and bystanders who stepped in to help. The academy wrote on Facebook, "Soccer is more than a game. It is a community. It is families in the stands, teammates standing beside one another, and people who come together through a shared love of the game." The academy also expressed gratitude to the community for their support and offered condolences to the families of the victims. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of youth sports, with some questioning whether the incident was intentional or whether a medical emergency, impairment, or another factor was involved. The district attorney's office told Fox News Digital that police are expected to make an initial case presentation to District Attorney Marc Bennett early this week. Following that initial case review, the office will share information as appropriate. The crash sent emergency crews racing to the sports complex, where bystanders had already stepped forward to help the injured. Adrian and Schafer died on the field despite lifesaving efforts. Ten people were taken to Ascension Via Christi and Wesley Medical Center with injuries police described as noncritical. The injured children included a 5-year-old girl, a 5-year-old boy, two 8-year-old boys, and a 9-year-old girl. The five injured adults ranged in age from 28 to 68. An additional woman, 61, was hospitalized for medical complications unrelated to traumatic injuries, bringing the total number transported to 11. A restaurant, Meddys, has pledged to donate 20% of all revenue from its Wichita and Salina locations from October 18 through October 24 to families affected by the tragedy. The business also offered free meals to the immediate families of those injured for as long as their loved ones remain hospitalized. The restaurant partnered with local nonprofit Kingdom Athletics Mission to receive and distribute donations to the affected McPherson families after people outside the area asked how they could help. Meddys said the nonprofit would manage both GoFundMe donations and the business' contributions. Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan also offered condolences to the families Sunday. "What should have been a day of children playing soccer and families spending time together ended in tragedy," he said.