A 34-year-old Kansas mother will not face criminal charges after her SUV drove onto a youth soccer field in Wichita, killing two people and injuring 10 others.
The incident occurred on October 17 at the Stryker Sports Complex, where six-year-old Cole Adrian and 35-year-old Nicholas Schafer were killed after the vehicle struck a group of spectators.
Ten other people, aged between five and 68, sustained injuries in the crash.
Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett announced that the woman would not be prosecuted following an investigation that found no evidence of intoxication or intentional wrongdoing.
Authorities had initially awaited the results of toxicology testing before reaching their decision.
Bennett said there was no evidence that alcohol or drugs contributed to the incident.
“I have zero evidence that this was in any way impacted by intoxication, driving under the influence,” he said.
He added that investigators had found evidence indicating the incident was not deliberate.
Mother Had Been Sleeping Inside The SUV
Investigators established that the woman had told her two children, aged 14 and 11, that she intended to take a nap inside her husband’s Chevrolet SUV.
According to Bennett, she had been awake since 6am on the day of the incident and had driven approximately 200 miles from her home in Garden City to Wichita.
She had reportedly taken the relatively new vehicle because her usual car was experiencing problems with its air conditioning and tyres.
Bennett explained that the woman had asked her husband to repair her regular vehicle because she was concerned about its safety during the journey to Wichita.
She arrived at the Stryker Sports Complex at approximately 10.40am and left around 1.20pm.
She returned about an hour later and parked near one of the soccer fields.
Less than an hour after returning, the vehicle moved onto the field and struck people gathered around the game.
Investigators Examine How The Vehicle Started Moving
According to the district attorney, the mother told her children she was tired before reclining her seat and falling asleep.
Investigators believe she may have accidentally released the brake and pressed the accelerator while sleeping, although they could not establish whether the vehicle had been placed in park.
Bennett said investigators considered whether she might have accidentally moved the gear selector with her leg but believed this was unlikely.
He explained that the vehicle could not be shifted into gear without someone pressing the brake pedal.
The mother reportedly woke up when her children began screaming.
Bennett described her as disoriented as she attempted to sit upright and understand what was happening.
She reached for the steering wheel and looked ahead, apparently struggling to comprehend the scene in front of her.
Witnesses who rushed to assist pulled her out of the vehicle.
As she was being removed, she reportedly screamed: “Oh my God, oh my God, what have I done?”
Two Victims Pronounced Dead At The Scene
The two people killed in the incident were identified as Cole Adrian, six, and Nicholas Schafer, 35.
Both were natives of McPherson, Kansas, and police said they were not related.
They were pronounced dead at the scene.
The 10 injured victims included three young children: a five-year-old girl, a five-year-old boy and a nine-year-old girl.
The remaining injured individuals were aged between 28 and 68.
Some of the victims sustained critical injuries and were transported to hospital for treatment.
Bystanders Rushed To Help The Injured
Following the collision, parents and other people present at the sports complex immediately attempted to assist those who had been struck.
Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan said members of the public provided emergency assistance, including attempts to save the lives of the injured.
He praised the immediate response from local residents, describing it as a reflection of the Wichita community.
The mother was also removed from the vehicle by other parents as people gathered around the crash scene.
Police subsequently examined the area, where personal belongings and other items had been scattered across the grass.
Father Pays Tribute To Six-Year-Old Cole
Cole Adrian’s father, Chris Adrian, paid tribute to his son following his death, describing him as a much-loved child who brought happiness to those around him.
Speaking to The New York Times, he said the six-year-old had been passionate about sports and was widely loved within his community.
“Cole was an incredible kid and could put a smile on anyone’s face,” he said.
He described his son’s personality as welcoming, adding that he had a pure heart and formed friendships with people of all ages.
Chris also remembered his son’s laughter, saying he had the ability to make others happy and was a friend to both young and old.
Authorities have concluded that the driver will not face criminal prosecution over the October 17 collision.
