At least two people, including a child, have died and several others were injured after a vehicle drove onto a youth soccer field during a game at Wichita’s Stryker Sports Complex in Kansas. The driver was taken into police custody as a major emergency response unfolded.
The incident occurred at approximately 3:25 p.m. Saturday, when a vehicle crossed the complex’s soccer fields and struck multiple people.
Police said two victims were pronounced dead at the scene. Several other injured people were taken to nearby hospitals while emergency crews worked to assist those involved.
The driver remained at the scene and was later detained by authorities. Officials have not released the person’s name. The driver reportedly told police that two juveniles were also inside the vehicle.
Investigators have not yet determined whether the vehicle entered the field intentionally or whether the crash was accidental.
Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses confirmed the fatalities during a briefing near the sports complex shortly after the crash.
“At about 3:25 p.m., Sedgwick County emergency communications began receiving multiple emergency calls reporting that a vehicle had driven through a soccer game at Stryker Sports Complex,” Moses told KWCH.
“Our officers, along with law enforcement agencies from the area, the Wichita Fire Department and Sedgwick County EMS, responded to the scene.
Wichita police declared a “mass casualty” incident after a pickup truck drove across youth soccer fields at the sports complex. Two people were confirmed dead
Emergency crews arrived quickly, while stunned witnesses and bystanders remained at the scene
The crash took place at Stryker Sports Complex, which features 11 outdoor all-sports turf fields
“We have two fatalities confirmed here at the scene and multiple other casualties, with individuals transported to area hospitals.”
Moses said the driver had been detained and emphasized that officials did not believe there was any continuing threat to the public.
“The vehicle involved in this incident remained at the scene. The driver of that vehicle is currently in our custody.
“There is no additional ongoing threat to the public from that driver.”
The police captain said investigators did not yet know how fast the vehicle had been traveling or how it reached the soccer field.
A witness told local station 12 News that a “black pickup truck came plowing through the youth soccer fields,” striking several people before coming to a stop roughly 100 to 200 yards farther down the fields.
The witness said the scene quickly became chaotic as emergency responders moved in to treat people injured by the truck.
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“Dozens of emergency responders on scene giving CPR and rendering aid to victims,” the witness said.
Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses confirmed that two people died after the truck entered the soccer field
Shocked parents at the sports complextook out their phones and captured the scene
Emergency services were quickly on the scene helping where they could
The Stryker Sports Complex told people to avoid the area
The account suggested the truck had traveled a considerable distance across the sports fields before finally coming to a stop.
Police are appealing for anyone with video footage of the incident to share it with them.
‘Regardless of how significant you believe your footage may be, we encourage you to submit it. Even the smallest detail could assist investigators,’ said the WPD.
Wichita Mayor Lily Wu said she’s ‘heartbroken’ and advised people to avoid the area, adding, ‘My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected, especially the children and families involved.’
The tragedy unfolded at a venue popular with young soccer players and their families, turning what should have been an ordinary Saturday afternoon of sport into an emergency.
The Kansas State High School Activities Association said play has been suspended for the flag football state championship following the deadly accident.
‘Games will not resume this weekend, but a later announcement will be made with updated game times,’ KSHSAA said.
The association extended its condolences to the ‘families and teams impacted by the incident on a field adjacent to the flag football competition at Stryker Sports Complex Saturday.’
‘Given the nature of the emergency, we felt it was best to suspend the flag football third place and championship games until a later date. Details will be announced Monday,’ KSHSAA said.
Stryker Sports Complex in northeast Wichita, is a major regional soccer facility that hosts youth competitions and other sporting events.
Its extensive playing fields regularly attract young athletes, coaches and spectators from across the region.
The fact that the vehicle appeared to drive directly through a soccer game has raised urgent questions about how it came to enter the playing area.