Authorities have identified two victims, including a child, who were killed when a woman drove through a youth soccer game in Kansas. The incident occurred on Saturday at the Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita, leaving ten others injured, some seriously. Chris Adrian, a middle school soccer coach, confirmed the death of his six-year-old son, Cole, expressing heartbreak over the loss. He described Cole as a joyful child who could uplift anyone's spirits.
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The second victim was identified as 35-year-old Nicholas Schafer, who had celebrated his 14th wedding anniversary in May and was a father of three. Friends of the Schafer family created an online fundraiser that highlighted the immense pain and loss the family is enduring. Both victims were residents of McPherson, Kansas, located about an hour north of Wichita.
A 34-year-old woman from Garden City, Kansas, was driving the Chevrolet pickup truck involved in the incident. She was released by Wichita police on Sunday pending further investigation and toxicology tests. Witnesses reported that the woman’s vehicle suddenly drove onto the field after being parked nearby.
Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan stated that investigators will continue to look into the circumstances of the tragedy. He expressed condolences to the families affected, acknowledging that what should have been a day of joy ended in sorrow.
Among the injured were five children and several adults, with ages ranging from five to 68. Police have interviewed over 30 witnesses and are seeking anyone with video footage of the incident to come forward. Eyewitness accounts revealed moments of panic as bystanders rushed to help the injured while emergency services arrived approximately ten minutes later.
Following the incident, the sports complex was closed for the remainder of the weekend, and a vigil was held to honor the victims.