laugh. He was a friend with everyone, young or old.”
The sports-loving boy was pronounced dead at the scene, along with Schafer, whose family declined to speak to the media.
A makeshift memorial near the crash site included balloons, stuffed animals and signs honoring those affected.
Parents and spectators rushed to help
According to police, the pickup had been parked near the playing fields before it entered the soccer field at approximately 3:25 p.m.
Two of the driver’s children were inside the vehicle. A third child was playing on another field at the complex.
Witness PJ Kemp told The New York Times that he and other spectators ran toward the truck after it stopped. He recalled people along an entire sideline joining efforts to help the injured.
Parents and bystanders attempted lifesaving assistance before emergency responders took over, Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan said.
The hospitalized children included a five-year-old girl, a five-year-old boy, two eight-year-old boys and a nine-year-old girl. The injured adults ranged in age from 28 to 68.
A separate medical issue also resulted in a 61-year-old woman being taken to a hospital.
Driver released as investigation continues
Police identified the driver only as a 34-year-old mother from Garden City.
She remained at the scene and was taken into custody before being released Sunday afternoon. Authorities said toxicology results and a mechanical examination of the pickup were pending.
Investigators interviewed more than 30 witnesses, including the two children who had been in the truck, before interviewing the driver.
Police also consulted the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office. No charges had been filed at the time of the report.
Authorities had not established the truck’s speed, how it reached the playing area or what caused it to move onto the field.
Police appealed for anyone with video footage to submit it, emphasizing that even details witnesses considered minor could help investigators.
Community mourns as sporting events are suspended
Sullivan offered condolences to the victims’ families and acknowledged the impact on those injured and everyone who witnessed the incident.
“What should have been a day of children playing soccer and families spending time together ended in tragedy,” he said.
Wichita Mayor Lily Wu also expressed her sadness and offered prayers for the children and families involved.
The Kansas State High School Activities Association suspended the remaining third-place and championship flag football games taking place beside the affected field.
The association said those games would be rescheduled, while police continued working to establish exactly what happened at the complex.
