The driver of a pickup truck that crashed onto a Kansas soccer field, killing a 6-year-old boy and a man, has been released without charges as investigators work to determine what caused the tragedy during a Saturday youth sports event.
Wichita police said Sunday that the 34-year-old woman was released while authorities await toxicology results and complete a mechanical inspection of her Chevrolet pickup. Police identified the victims as Cole Adrian, 6, and Nicholas Schafer, 35, both of McPherson, Kansas. The two were not related.
Police said 10 people were injured, including five children, when the truck left a parking space and drove onto a field at the Stryker Sports Complex at approximately 3:25 p.m. Saturday.
Wichita police responded to the Striker Sports Complex after a pickup truck drove through a youth soccer game Saturday afternoon, killing two people and injuring 10 others. (REUTERS)
The woman, who was initially taken into custody, had two of her children in the pickup. A third child was playing soccer on another field at the complex.
Her release came after police interviewed more than 30 witnesses, including the children who were inside the truck, and consulted with the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.
Investigators have not yet established what led to the fatal crash. Authorities have not said whether it was intentional or linked to a medical emergency, impairment or another factor.
The district attorney’s office told News Media that police are expected to present an initial case review to District Attorney Marc Bennett early this week.
Wichita police officials speak with reporters after the Oct. 17, 2026, crash at Stryker Sports Complex that left two people dead and 10 others injured. (Wichita Police Department)
“Following that initial case review, our office will share information as appropriate,” the office said.
The crash brought emergency crews to the sports complex in northeast Wichita, where bystanders had already begun helping the injured. Adrian and Schafer died on the field despite lifesaving efforts.
Ten people were transported to Ascension Via Christi and Wesley Medical Center. Police said Sunday that their injuries were noncritical. The injured children were 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. Another 61-year-old woman was hospitalized for medical complications unrelated to traumatic injuries, bringing the total number transported to 11.
Sporting Wichita Academy said the incident had deeply affected a soccer community centered on families and teammates. The organization thanked first responders, health care workers and bystanders who helped at the scene.
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“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 wrote on Facebook. “Today, that community is hurting, and we must lean on one another more than ever.”
A pickup truck drove through a youth soccer game at the Striker Sports Complex in Wichita, Kansas, on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, killing two people, including a 6-year-old boy. (REUTERS)
As the investigation continues, a restaurant is helping support grieving families and relatives of those who remain hospitalized.
Meddys pledged to donate 20% of the revenue generated at its Wichita and Salina locations from Oct. 18 through Oct. 24 to families affected by the tragedy.
The restaurant also said it would provide free meals to the immediate families of those injured for the duration of their loved ones’ hospital stays.
“With so much to carry right now, figuring out your next meal should not have to be one more worry,” Meddys wrote on Facebook.
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 is our home. These are our neighbors. In moments like this, we take care of one another,” the business wrote.
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. “We are also thinking about those who were injured, their loved ones and everyone who witnessed what happened. We know this tragedy has affected many people throughout our community, and we want those families to know they are not alone.”
The deadly crash also halted the Kansas State High School Activities Association’s inaugural girls flag football state championship, which was taking place on an adjacent field. The association suspended play and said games would not resume that weekend.
At Saturday’s news conference, Wichita Police Capt. Aaron Moses said the driver had a valid license, no outstanding arrest warrants and was cooperating with investigators.
Sullivan underscored the unanswered question confronting investigators.
“We know what happened, but now we’re working very hard to find out why it happened,” he said Saturday.
Police are asking anyone with information about the crash to call investigators at 316-268-4407. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.
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