A 34-year-old woman drove a pickup truck through a youth soccer game at the Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita, Kansas, on Saturday afternoon, killing two people and sending 11 to the hospital, according to Wichita police. Investigators have not said why it happened.
What police have confirmed:
- The crash happened around 3:25 p.m. at the Wichita sports complex.
- A 35-year-old man and a 6-year-old boy died at the scene. Police Capt. Aaron Moses said the two were not related.
- Eleven people were hospitalized. Five were children between the ages of 5 and 9.
- Ten of the injured had traumatic injuries. Police said some were serious but not believed to be life-threatening.
- The driver is the mother of a child who was playing at the complex, though not on the field where the truck struck people, Moses said.
- She drove from the east side of the complex to a field on the west end, Moses said.
- Two children were in the truck with her. The driver is in custody and has cooperated with investigators, per Moses.
What happened next
According to a reporter who relayed the details from a police press conference, other parents pulled the driver from the truck. She reportedly cried out asking what she had done.
Bystanders went straight to work on the wounded. Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan said civilians gave life-saving assistance until first responders arrived. He called it "indicative of the Wichita community."
A witness told 12 News a black pickup came through the fields and hit multiple people before stopping 100 to 200 yards down. Photos from WSMV4 News showed a black truck parked in the middle of the field.
Where things stand
Sullivan said police still don't know why the crash occurred, and the investigation at the scene is ongoing. He asked the public to be patient and said more updates will come.
Mayor Lily Wu said families had come to the complex to enjoy a Saturday afternoon watching their kids play. She said her heart breaks for the families who lost loved ones, especially the family grieving a child.
Source: Nypost