DA Says No Charges for Driver in Wichita Stryker Sports Complex Tragedy

The Sedgwick County District Attorney’s office announced Thursday that no criminal charges would be filed against the woman whose truck struck and killed two people at the Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita on October 17.

Investigators concluded that the driver, who had fallen asleep in the vehicle, did not intentionally drive into the field where a soccer match was underway.

The incident resulted in the deaths of 6-year-old Cole Adrian and 35-year-old Nicholas Schafer, while 11 others sustained injuries. Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett said that after a comprehensive review of vehicle forensics, surveillance footage, and witness interviews, the evidence points to a tragic accident rather than a criminal act.

“It is my solemn responsibility to stand before the community and say, as bad as this was, it is not a crime,” said Marc Bennett, Sedgwick County District Attorney.

The investigation into the events of October 17 revealed that the driver had traveled from Garden City, Kansas, that morning to attend her child’s soccer game. According to investigators, the woman arrived at the sports complex around 10:40 a.m. and later moved the truck to a parking spot near the field. After returning from an errand around 2:20 p.m., she reclined the driver’s seat to take a nap.

Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan explained that the vehicle was positioned against a seven-inch curb. While investigators could not definitively confirm if the truck was in park, they determined that the vehicle would not have moved over the curb without the application of the gas pedal. The investigation concluded that the driver did not experience a medical episode or operate the vehicle under the influence of any substances.

The possibility that the driver shifted the vehicle while asleep was examined, but Bennett said that such an action would require a deliberate sequence of inputs, including pressing the brake and shifting gears. Investigators ultimately determined the most likely scenario was that the truck was left in drive and the accelerator was depressed inadvertently as the driver shifted positions during her sleep.

This decision shifts the legal focus entirely to the civil sphere. Under the negligence standard, the victims’ families may pursue civil litigation to seek damages for their losses. The District Attorney emphasized that the investigation was exhaustive, aimed at providing the families with a factual account of the tragedy.

Chief Sullivan met with the families of the victims to discuss the investigation’s findings prior to the public announcement. While the conclusion offers clarity regarding the sequence of events, it does not lessen the impact on the Wichita community or the families affected by the loss of life at the complex.

The investigation into the specific mechanical state of the truck and the timeline of the driver’s actions remained the primary focus for authorities over the past several weeks. With the criminal inquiry closed, the legal resolution of the incident now rests with potential civil proceedings.

Earlier coverage: Wichita Officials to Update on Deadly Stryker Sports Complex Crash