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New dispatch audio from the day a driver allegedly plowed into children and spectators at a Kansas soccer field reveals the moments first responders rushed to the scene on Saturday.
In the call, dispatchers can be heard labeling the horrific incident as an “MCI” or mass-casualty incident. It happened at the Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita.
Cole Adrian, 6, and Nicholas Schafer, 35, were killed. Both victims were from McPherson.
In addition to the deaths, 10 more, including five children, were injured.
The 34-year-old woman who was behind the wheel was released with no charges, police said.
Police have not revealed if there are going to be any criminal charges forthcoming against the driver, who was initially taken into custody.
They said Sunday that the driver was released pending toxicology results and an examination of her Chevrolet pickup.
She had two of her children inside the pickup. One of her children was playing soccer on a different field at the complex.
Investigators interviewed the driver and more than 30 witnesses, including the two children who were in the pickup at the time of the crash.
Police consulted with the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office before releasing her.
A 30-minute log of dispatch communications outlines the response to Saturday’s incident:
- First responders reported at least 11 patients at the scene, including two described as “working blues,” indicating serious medical emergencies.
- A responder reported nine patients, including “two code blacks” and “two code blues,” while the remaining victims were still being triaged.
- Emergency personnel classified the incident as a Level 3 “MCI”, describing it as “a motor vehicle accident into a bunch of pedestrians.”
- Dispatch audio referenced a 5-year-old victim who suffered multi-system trauma after being struck by a vehicle. The child was reported to have a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 15, indicating full responsiveness at the time of assessment.
- More than 30 minutes into the recording, a responder reported, “There’s another victim in the middle of the field.” The audio does not establish whether the victim had just been discovered.
On Monday, the City of Wichita confirmed its public works division “will be installing temporary barriers at key locations around the Stryker Sports Complex until more permanent solutions can be implemented.”
The city also confirmed it would assess security around the complex and police would “be present at the facility” this coming weekend – along with local mental health professionals to assist families in the wake of the tragedy.
McPherson Mayor Jim Loving said in a statement in part:
“There is nothing I can say that makes that right. To the families who lost someone: this whole town is grieving with you, and we will stand with you for as long as it takes.
“To the injured and their families: we are praying for your recovery. Thank you to the bystanders who stepped in before the first ambulance arrived, and to the first responders in Wichita and here at home.”
In a statement sent to Fox News Digital, Wichita Police said, “This is an active and ongoing investigation, and I would refer you to our media release. When we have any new updates to share, we will provide them.”