Kansas soccer field dispatch call captures mass-casualty response after driver kills boy, man
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: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 the...