Driver released without charges after pickup kills 2, injures 10 at Wichita youth soccer game

As of 7:54 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026

The woman who was driving a pickup truck that went onto a youth soccer field in Wichita, Kansas, on Saturday has been released from custody, and no charges have been filed, the Wichita Police Department said Sunday.

Two people were killed, a 6-year-old boy and a 35-year-old man, and 10 others were injured at Stryker Sports Complex in northeast Wichita, police said.

After interviews, investigators consulted with the Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office, police said. "The 34-year-old driver was subsequently released pending the results of toxicology testing and a mechanical examination of the vehicle. No charges have been filed at this time, and investigators continue working to determine the circumstances that led to the crash," the department said in a news release.

The driver, from Garden City, Kansas, has not been named. Police have not said what caused the crash.

What police say happened

Sedgwick County 911 received multiple calls at about 3:25 p.m. CDT Saturday (4:25 p.m. ET) reporting that a vehicle had driven onto soccer fields at the complex, 2999 N. Greenwich Road, striking several people, police said.

"The preliminary investigation indicates a Chevrolet pickup driven by a 34-year-old woman was parked in a parking space near the soccer fields before it drove onto one of the fields, striking multiple children and adults," the release said. Two of the driver's children were in the pickup, and another of her children was playing soccer on a different field, police said.

Investigators interviewed more than 30 witnesses, including the two children who were in the pickup, before interviewing the driver, police said. Police said Saturday that she had a valid driver's license and no warrants, The Wichita Eagle reported.

The victims

Both people killed died at the scene and were from McPherson, Kansas, police said. They were not related. Police identified the man as Nicholas Schafer, 35.

The 10 injured were taken to Ascension Via Christi and Wesley Medical Center with injuries police described as noncritical. They range in age from 5 to 68 and include five children, police said. A 61-year-old woman was also taken to a hospital for medical complications unrelated to traumatic injuries.

"What should have been a day of children playing soccer and families spending time together ended in tragedy," Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan said in the release, offering condolences to the families. "Our officers and investigators will continue working to understand exactly what happened".

McPherson Mayor Jim Loving offered condolences, telling residents "this whole town is grieving with you," KWCH 12 News reported. Counselors and support staff will be available at McPherson Public Schools on Monday, KWCH reported.

Witnesses

A witness told KWCH on Saturday that a "black pickup truck came plowing through the youth soccer fields hitting multiple people before stopping 100-200 yards down the fields".

Bethany Pope of Rose Hill, a soccer parent, told The Wichita Eagle she saw the truck from her car. "The driver never slowed down," she said. "The driver plowed through everybody".

Response

The city of Wichita canceled all events at the complex after the crash; the complex has since said it will resume normal operations Monday, Oct. 19, The Wichita Eagle reported. The Kansas State High School Activities Association suspended its flag football state third-place and championship games, which were scheduled on a field adjacent to the crash site, and said details would be announced Monday.

Police are asking anyone with information to call WPD investigators at 316-268-4407 or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111. Mental health support is available through Sedgwick County COMCARE and by calling or texting 988, police said.