Daijiworld Media Network - Wichita
Wichita, Oct 18: A six-year-old boy and a 35-year-old man were killed and 10 others injured after a woman drove a truck through a youth soccer game at a sports complex in Wichita, Kansas, on Saturday afternoon, police said.
The 34-year-old driver from Garden City, Kansas, was taken into custody. However, police said it was not immediately clear whether the incident at the Stryker Sports Complex was intentional.
Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses said the woman had cooperated with investigators so far. The two deceased victims were from McPherson and were not related to each other, he said.
The injured included five children aged between five and nine, along with five adults aged between 28 and 68. Their injuries ranged from bruises to severe trauma, but police believed they were not life-threatening.
An additional patient, a 61-year-old woman, was hospitalised for non-traumatic medical issues, Moses said.
Police began receiving emergency calls shortly before 3.30 pm reporting that a vehicle had driven through a soccer game at the complex. First responders, including Kansas Highway Patrol officers, Sedgwick County sheriff's deputies and police from nearby Bel Aire, arrived at the scene and found the boy and the man dead.
Bystanders were seen providing medical assistance to the injured before emergency personnel arrived. The driver was still inside the truck, along with two children, when officers reached the scene. Police said one of the woman's children had a game at the complex, though at a different field from where the incident occurred.
Wichita Mayor Lily Wu expressed sorrow over the incident, saying her thoughts and prayers were with the victims, particularly the children and their families.
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly said she was monitoring the situation and had offered state resources to the city. She also expressed condolences to the victims' families and thanked the first responders.
The Stryker Sports Complex is a city-owned facility with 11 turf fields used for various sporting events. All events at the complex have been cancelled until further notice.
The Kansas State High School Activities Association also suspended its scheduled flag football state championship and other matches planned for the weekend.
Police said the investigation was ongoing and appealed to members of the public to share any video footage of the incident that could assist investigators.