Two people were killed, and 11 were injured after a truck drove onto a soccer field Saturday in Wichita, Kansas, authorities said.
A 6-year-old boy and a 35-year-old man were killed during a soccer game at Stryker Soccer Complex, said Aaron Moses, a captain and executive officer with the Wichita Police Department. The boy was identified Sunday as Cole Adrian and the man as Nicholas Schafer, both of whom are from McPherson, Kansas, but they were not related, according to police.
Eleven people were transported to local hospitals with injuries that were not life-threatening, ranging in age from 5 years old to 68 years old, Moses said at a news conference.
The driver, a 34-year-old woman, was taken into custody and had been cooperative with the investigation, Moses said. Two juveniles were also inside the vehicle at the time, Moses said. It's unclear if the incident was intentional.
An investigation into the incident was ongoing, police said. No charges have been filed, and the driver was later released pending the results of toxicology testing and a mechanical examination of the vehicle, police said Sunday.
The city of Wichita said in a statement that all events at the soccer complex have been canceled until further notice.
"Today is a heartbreaking day for Wichita," Mayor Lily Wu said during a news conference on Saturday. "Families came to Stryker Soccer Complex to enjoy a Saturday afternoon watching their children play soccer. No one could have imagined the tragedy that would unfold."
David Griekspoor was there watching his nephew play. He and his family sprang into action to help, and they are all safe.
"The families that were on that field, that had to dive out of the way, who lost loved ones, who have kids or family members in the hospital... it was just a hard sight to see," he said.
For many in the community, there are now more questions than answers.
"I know they are doing further investigations ... but for her to be free when so many people went through so much ... it just doesn't make sense," Griekspoor said about the driver.
In a statement on social media Sunday, U.S. Soccer said it was "heartbroken" by the tragedy and offered its condolences to the families impacted.
"The entire U.S. Soccer family stands with the soccer communities in Wichita and across Kansas during this incredibly difficult time," the statement said. "We will work closely with Wichita Youth Soccer to understand how we can best support the community in the days and weeks ahead."
