News Desk: Two people, including a six-year-old boy, were killed and 11 others were taken to hospitals after a pickup truck drove through a youth soccer game in Wichita, Kansas, on Saturday, October 17. Police have taken a 34-year-old woman into custody as investigators work to determine what caused the incident.
The incident took place at the Stryker Sports Complex at around 3:25 p.m. local time. Emergency dispatchers received multiple calls reporting that a vehicle had driven onto a soccer field where children were playing.
According to Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses, the two people killed were a 35-year-old man and a six-year-old boy. Police said the victims were not related to each other. Their identities had not been publicly released in the initial reports.
Eleven people were transported to nearby hospitals following the incident. Ten suffered traumatic injuries ranging from minor to extremely severe, while another person was hospitalised for a non-traumatic medical condition.
Police said the driver was at the sports complex because a child of hers was participating in soccer activities. Two juveniles were inside the pickup truck when it entered the field. Authorities clarified that her child was not playing on the field where the collision occurred.
The woman remained at the scene and was taken into custody. Investigators have not yet established why the truck entered the playing area or whether the incident was intentional.
Wichita police have appealed to witnesses to share photographs and video footage that could help establish what happened. Officials have asked people to submit any recordings, including material they might consider unimportant.
Police Chief Joe Sullivan praised people at the sports complex who helped the injured before emergency responders arrived, describing their efforts as potentially life-saving.
Wichita Mayor Lily Wu also expressed condolences to the affected families. Calling it a heartbreaking day for the city, she noted that families had gathered to watch children play soccer and could not have anticipated such a tragedy.
Activities at the sports complex were cancelled as emergency teams and investigators worked at the scene. Authorities also urged the public to avoid the area and follow official channels for verified updates.
The investigation is ongoing, and police have not announced a confirmed cause for the incident.
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