A pickup truck drove onto a youth soccer field at Stryker Sports Complex in northeast Wichita, Kansas, on October 17, killing two people and injuring several others during what was meant to be a routine Saturday match. U.S. Soccer issued a statement on X the following day expressing its condolences to those affected.
The statement read: "We are heartbroken by the tragedy at a youth soccer game in Wichita, Kansas. Our deepest condolences go out to the families who lost loved ones, and our thoughts are with those injured and everyone impacted."
U.S. Soccer added, "We are grateful to the community members and first responders who cared for the injured. The entire U.S. Soccer family stands with the soccer communities in Wichita and across Kansas during this incredibly difficult time. We will work closely with Kansas Youth Soccer to understand how we can best support the community in the days and weeks ahead."
Police identified the two people killed as six-year-old Cole Adrian and 35-year-old Nicholas Schafer, both from McPherson, Kansas. Authorities said the two victims were not related to one another.
According to police, the driver was a 34-year-old woman from Garden City, Kansas. Two of her children were inside the truck when it entered the field, while another of her children was playing soccer on a different field at the complex at the time. She was initially taken into custody but was released on October 18 pending further investigation. Police said they were awaiting toxicology results and a mechanical examination of the vehicle, and no charges had been filed as of the latest reports.
The incident also disrupted a girls' flag football state championship taking place on an adjacent field at the complex, with the remaining games suspended following the crash.
Wichita Mayor Lily Wu, who was briefly at the scene, posted on Facebook shortly afterward: "I'm heartbroken by reports of a tragic incident at Stryker Sports Complex. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected, especially the children and families involved."
A similar incident in 2023
A pre-season friendly between Dunston UTS FC and Gateshead FC in northeast England was abandoned in July 2023 after two vehicles, including a hearse, drove onto the pitch. The match, level at 1-1, was stopped shortly after half-time on July 21 at Dunston UTS Stadium when a hearse and a Subaru entered from the car park. Witnesses said men wearing balaclavas got out of the hearse and moved into the Subaru, which then drove away after reportedly breaking through a perimeter barrier, leaving the hearse abandoned near the centre circle. The referee abandoned the match, spectators were evacuated, and Northumbria Police launched an investigation. No injuries were reported, though the pitch was damaged.
