World · North America · 1 hr ago
Kansas prosecutor will not charge driver in soccer field crash
A truck drove onto a crowded soccer field in Wichita, Kansas, on Oct.
17, killing two people and injuring 10.
The driver, a 34-year-old woman, had been taking a nap in the truck at the sports complex.
Investigators believe she may have failed to put the truck in park and pressed the accelerator, but they found no evidence she meant to hurt anyone.
They also found no evidence that drugs, another substance or a medical emergency affected her.
Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett said state law did not provide grounds to charge her based on the evidence.
The people killed were Cole Adrian, 6, and Nicholas Schafer, 35, both from McPherson, Kansas.
No criminal case will proceed against the driver.
A Kansas prosecutor said the driver whose truck struck a crowd at a Wichita soccer field will not face criminal charges.
The crash on Oct. 17 killed Cole Adrian, 6, and Nicholas Schafer, 35, and injured 10 others.
Investigators concluded there was not enough evidence to prove the driver knew the truck was in drive or intended to hurt anyone.
The district attorney said the evidence did not meet the requirements for prosecution under state law.
- Who
- A 34-year-old woman drove the truck. Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett announced the decision.
- What
- The prosecutor will not file criminal charges over the crash that killed two people and injured 10.
- When
- The crash happened on Oct. 17, 2026. The decision was announced on Nov. 13.
- Where
- Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita, Kansas.
- Why
- The prosecutor said the evidence did not support a criminal case, including proof that the driver knew the truck was in drive or intended to hurt anyone.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A truck accelerated onto a soccer field at Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita, killing two people and injuring 10.
Investigators interviewed more than 30 witnesses and examined how the truck moved.
The district attorney released an investigation report and said no criminal charges would be filed.
The decision was reported by the NYT and AP.
- Location
- Stryker Sports Complex, Wichita, Kansas
- Crash date
- Oct. 17, 2026
- Deaths
- Cole Adrian, 6, and Nicholas Schafer, 35
- Injured
- 10 people, ages 5 to 68
- Vehicle
- Chevrolet 1500 Silverado
2 sources
What people are saying
Not everybody may be at peace with this decision,
There is no evidence to support the conclusion that she knew the truck was still in drive, or evidence to explain what motive she would have had to do so