Prosecutors decline charges in deadly Wichita soccer field crash
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WICHITA, Kan. — No criminal charges will be filed against the woman who drove a pickup truck onto a youth soccer field in Wichita, killing two people.
The Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office announced the decision nearly four weeks after the deadly crash at Stryker Sports Complex.
"This is not a crime, and I cannot charge this driver with a crime," DA Marc Bennett said.
The October 17 crash killed 6-year-old Cole Adrian and 35-year-old Nicholas Schafer, both of McPherson, Kansas. Ten other people, including five children, were injured.
The driver, a 34-year-old woman from Garden City, had been parked near the soccer fields before her Chevrolet pickup entered a field during a youth soccer game, striking children and adults.
Two of her children were inside the truck, while another was participating in soccer activities elsewhere at the complex.
Investigators initially questioned the woman before releasing her without charges. Police said at the time that they lacked probable cause to arrest her.
The case prompted widespread public scrutiny as investigators conducted dozens of interviews and examined vehicle evidence, including mechanical and toxicology testing.
The decision not to prosecute closes the question of whether criminal charges will be pursued in the crash, although it does not erase the possibility of civil litigation.
The tragedy has also prompted questions about safety protections at youth sports facilities. Wichita officials installed temporary barriers at the complex following the crash.
