Two people, including a child, were killed, and several others injured Saturday when a vehicle drove onto a soccer field at a sports complex in Wichita, Kansas.
The driver, identified as a 34-year-old woman, was taken into custody following the incident at Stryker Sports Complex, Wichita Police Capt. Aaron Moses said in a news conference.
Police said they believe the woman had a child playing soccer at the complex that day, but not on the field where the deadly crash took place.
Sedgwick County emergency dispatchers began receiving multiple calls about the incident around 3:25 p.m., Moses said.
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Police and emergency crews responded to the complex, where two people were pronounced dead on the field and 11 others, including five children, were transported to area hospitals.
Police confirmed that a 6-year-old boy and a 35-year-old man were pronounced dead at the scene. Both were from McPherson, Kansas, but authorities said they were not related.
Moses said ten victims suffered traumatic injuries ranging from minor bruises to extremely serious injuries. Those injuries were believed to be non-life-threatening, he added.
The injured children included two 5-year-olds, two 8-year-olds and a 9-year-old girl, according to Moses. A 61-year-old woman was also transported for a nontraumatic medical issue.
Two juveniles were inside the vehicle at the time of the incident, Moses said. The vehicle remained at the scene, and police said the driver posed no additional ongoing threat to the public.
“This is a tragedy,” Moses said.
The Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) suspended play at its inaugural girls flag football state championship following the incident, which occurred on an adjacent field at Stryker Sports Complex.
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The association said games would not resume this weekend and that updated game times would be announced later.
Authorities have not confirmed whether the driver acted intentionally, or whether a medical emergency, impairment or another factor caused the deadly crash.
Moses said the driver had a valid driver’s license and no outstanding arrest warrants. He said the driver was cooperating with the investigation.
No charges have been announced.
Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan emphasized that investigators know what happened but have not yet established why.
“We know what happened, but now we’re working very hard to find out why it happened,” Sullivan said.
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Sullivan also praised community members who rushed to help those injured at the complex before first responders arrived.
“It was truly amazing.”
Wichita Mayor Lily Wu called the incident “heartbreaking.”
“No one could have imagined the tragedy that would unfold,” she said.
The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, Bel Aire Police Department, Kansas Highway Patrol, Wichita Fire Department and Sedgwick County Emergency Medical Services were among the agencies responding to the scene.
Police said the investigation remains ongoing.
Investigators said they have interviewed more than 30 witnesses at the scene and were reviewing evidence, including video and photographs.
Officials asked anyone with video footage of the incident to submit it to authorities.
