Crimeupdated 1h ago2 min read
34-Year-Old Woman From Garden City Drives Truck Onto Wichita Youth Soccer Field, Killing 2
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34-year-old Garden City woman drove a truck onto Stryker Sports Complex field. Two killed: a 6-year-old boy and a 35-year-old man; 11 injured.
Truck Hits Youth Game
A 34-year-old woman from Garden City, Kansas drove a truck onto a youth soccer field at Stryker Soccer Complex in Wichita, Kansas, killing a 6-year-old boy and a 35-year-old man and injuring 11 others, police said.
Wichita Police Capt. Aaron Moses said first responders rushed to the complex after receiving multiple 911 calls around 3:25 p.m. CT, and he said the driver stayed with the truck after the incident.
Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan said police were still working to determine how and why the incident happened, and he said they were not there yet.
Wichita Mayor Lily Wu said, "Tonight, Wichita grieves together," and the city of Wichita said all events at the sports complex were canceled until further notice.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said, "My condolences go out to the families of the victims, the survivors, and all those impacted by this event," as authorities continued investigating.
Custody, Unclear Intent
Wichita Police Capt. Aaron Moses said the driver was in custody and that she was cooperative up to that point in the investigation.
Moses told reporters, "We are still working to determine how this happened and why this happened," and he said police did not say whether authorities believed it was intentional.
Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan said people "sprang into action so quickly and gave life-saving assistance until the arrival of first responders," and he called it indicative of the Wichita community.
Wichita Mayor Lily Wu advised people to avoid the area during the investigation and said the news was heartbreaking, and she told reporters, "My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected, especially the children and families involved," via Facebook.
Police said they interviewed over 30 witnesses at the scene and asked anyone with pictures or video to share them with investigators.
Aftermath and Support
The city of Wichita said it canceled all events at the sports complex until further notice, and the Stryker Soccer Complex said it was praying for those affected.
Wichita Police Capt. Aaron Moses said the two people pronounced dead were from McPherson, Kansas, and he said the injured ranged in age from 5 to 68.
KAKE said police believed all injuries were non-life-threatening, and it said 10 of the 11 taken to the hospital had traumatic injuries.
Sedgwick County COMCARE said it would have the Stress/Trauma Assistance Team at Stryker Sports Complex starting Monday, Oct. 19 through Wednesday, Oct. 21 from 5:30 – 10 p.m., and it said the team would be located in the main indoor field building.
Kansas State High School Activities Association said it suspended the flag football third place and championship games through the weekend, and it said the incident occurred in a field adjacent to the flag football competition at the complex.