A vehicle drove onto a youth soccer field in Wichita, Kansas, on Saturday, killing a 6-year-old boy and a 35-year-old man. Eleven other people were injured in the incident, which took place while families watched soccer games at a local sports complex.
The crash happened at Stryker Sports Complex at about 3:25 p.m. local time. Police said a 34-year-old woman was driving the vehicle. Her child was playing soccer on a different field at the complex, and two other children were also inside the vehicle.
Aaron Moses of the Wichita Police Department said the woman was taken into custody and had been cooperative with investigators. Police are still trying to determine why the vehicle entered the field and whether the driver will face charges.
The injured included children, but their injuries were not considered life-threatening, police said. Officials had not released the names of the two people who died. They were working to notify the victims’ families before sharing further details.
“This is a tragedy,” Moses told reporters outside the complex.
Witnesses said the crash caused fear and confusion among the families gathered for the games. Many children were playing or waiting near the fields when the vehicle drove into the area.
One person who attended the event told local television station KWCH that a black pickup truck jumped a curb and entered the field. Other witnesses said they heard a loud noise as the incident unfolded.
Vanessa Trammell was watching her 13-year-old son’s soccer game on a nearby field when she saw the truck drive across the neighboring pitch. She said the vehicle struck several people as it continued moving.
“We thought it was going to stop but then it like kept going,” Trammell said.
Her son’s game had just ended. The players were gathered in a huddle near the sidelines when the truck drove close to them. Trammell said she watched in shock as the vehicle crossed the field.
“It was pure panic,” she said. She described a scene in which people were trying to understand what had happened while others looked for family members.
Trammell said her first concern was finding her son. She did not know whether anyone had tried to stop the vehicle because she was focused on the chaos around her.
She added that her son’s coach ran toward the crash site to help the injured before paramedics arrived.
Emergency crews and law enforcement officers quickly gathered at the complex. Video from the scene showed children wearing red soccer uniforms standing near emergency vehicles. Yellow police tape marked off parts of the area as officers began their work.
Investigators are examining how the vehicle entered the field. The sports complex is fenced off and has a concrete route leading toward a parking lot. Moses said police had not yet established how the vehicle passed through the gate or how fast it was traveling.
Authorities have also not explained what caused the driver to enter the playing area. Investigators are working to piece together the events that led to the crash.
The deaths and injuries disrupted activities across the complex. Officials canceled all events at Stryker Sports Complex until further notice.
The facility said it was thinking of the victims and their families during the difficult period. It also asked the public to keep everyone affected in their thoughts and prayers.
Stryker Sports Complex hosts recreational and competitive soccer leagues for children and adults. Its programs include young players under five years old, school-age children and high school students. The site has 11 outdoor turf fields and an indoor sports facility.
The crash also affected a nearby sports event. State championship games for flag football scheduled at an adjacent field were suspended while police examined the scene, the Kansas State High School Activities Association said.
Wichita Mayor Lily Wu expressed sorrow over the incident. She urged people to avoid the area while emergency workers and investigators continued their response.
Wu said her thoughts were with everyone affected, especially the children and families who had gathered for the games.
Police have not announced whether charges will be filed. They are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash and are working to provide more information as it becomes available.
The incident has left families and players facing the loss of two lives and the shock of a sudden tragedy at a place meant for sport and recreation. Officials have urged people to stay clear of the site while the investigation continues.
