A child and an adult were killed Saturday afternoon when a vehicle drove into an active soccer game at a sports complex in Wichita, Kansas, leaving multiple others injured and a community in shock.
Emergency calls began flooding into 911 just before 3:30 p.m. as witnesses reported a vehicle had plowed through players and spectators at the Stryker Sports Complex. First responders arrived to find both victims dead at the scene.
Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses confirmed that several additional victims were transported to nearby hospitals, though the exact number of injured and the severity of their conditions had not been released as of Saturday evening.
The driver of the vehicle was taken into custody, but authorities had not yet determined whether the incident was deliberate or accidental. Police also noted that two minors were inside the vehicle at the time of the crash.
Investigators are asking anyone who recorded video of the incident to submit footage to assist with the ongoing investigation.
Wichita Mayor Lily Wu expressed her grief publicly, saying she was heartbroken by the tragedy and that her thoughts were with the families affected, particularly the children involved. The city has canceled all events at the Stryker Sports Complex until further notice.
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly said she is closely monitoring the situation and has offered state resources to support local officials. She extended her condolences to the victims’ families and praised the efforts of first responders on the scene.
The Stryker Sports Complex is a city-operated facility featuring 11 turf fields used for a variety of sports. The Kansas State High School Activities Association announced it was suspending its scheduled flag football state championship and all other weekend matches in response to the tragedy.
The investigation remains active and authorities have not yet released the identities or ages of the two people killed.