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“Law enforcement definitely needed to do a better job of describing why these charges weren’t filed,” says Jamie Copenhaver.
Copenhaver, a former Florida sheriff’s detective who worked with an FBI joint terrorism task force, is curious why law enforcement has remained tight-lipped about the lack of charges in the horrific Kansas football field crash.
A mother fled without any charges after investigators say she drove onto the active field at the Stryker Sports Complex where children and families were present – killing two people and injuring several others.
Police responded to the Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita, Kansas, after a van plowed through a youth football game Saturday afternoon, leaving two people dead and 11 others hospitalized. (Reuters)
CHILD AMONG 2 KILLED AFTER VEHICLE ROLLS ON FOOTBALL FIELD AT KANSAS SPORTS COMPLEX
It happened on Saturday; Cole Adrian, 6, and Nicholas Schafer, 35, both of McPherson, were killed. The woman behind the wheel was released after being questioned by investigators the same day.
Wichita police said she was released “pending results of toxicology tests and a mechanical examination of the vehicle.”
Police said in a statement Tuesday that they have interviewed nearly 50 witnesses and more interviews are underway.
“Investigators are also inspecting the truck, analyzing available vehicle data and continuing their investigative work at the Stryker Sports Complex,” police said. “They are working closely with the Regional Forensic Science Center and awaiting official, peer-reviewed toxicology results.”
The driver remained on scene and was cooperative, they said.
“Based on information available as of Sunday morning, and after consultation with the Sedgwick County Prosecutor’s Office, investigators did not have probable cause to arrest the driver. She has been released and the investigation continues. Her release does not represent a final decision on whether criminal charges are appropriate.”
LISTEN: KANSAS SOCCER FIELD DISPATCH CALL CAPTURES RESPONSE TO MASS CASUALTIES AFTER DRIVER KILLS BOY, MAN
“We know that this case has captured the attention of people across the country, and many of them have strong opinions about the incident even if they do not have direct knowledge of what happened,” said Chief Joe Sullivan. “We recognize that the decision that the law and the Constitution requires us to make on Sunday morning may not be a popular one. We take an oath to support the laws of the State of Kansas and the Constitution of the United States and no one within the Wichita Police Department takes that oath for granted.”
The driver had a valid driver’s license and no outstanding arrest warrants, police said.
They dispelled rumors circulating online, noting that the driver was not in the country illegally, had no documented criminal history and had no ties to the Wichita Police Department, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office or any other law enforcement agency.
Two people, including a 6-year-old boy, were killed after a pickup truck crashed through a youth football game at the Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita, Kansas, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Reuters)
Andrew Ford, a spokesperson for the Wichita Police Department, told TMZ the driver was questioned for several hours after the crash. He said she answered questions about what happened, according to the outlet.
Ford told TMZ that police are investigating all possibilities to determine why this happened, including whether speed, mechanical failure, drugs or alcohol played a role.
Wichita police could not immediately be reached for comment.
Did the driver have a medical emergency?
No information on the driver’s state of health at the time of the accident has been released.
Copenhagen said it may be necessary for law enforcement to release information about the woman’s physical health at the time of the incident in order to “prevent conspiracy theories.”
“People need to know a little more transparency about why this might have happened,” he said.
Did his vehicle break down?
Police said the black van involved in the incident will undergo mechanical testing. Copenhagen said the black box will be able to give a better idea whether something went wrong mechanically before the fatal crash.
He said the data will reveal possible “contributing factors” such as speed, whether she braked, the timing of braking and the extent to which the vehicle skidded.
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“It doesn’t take much time, in my opinion, to download that data and have it reviewed by one of their experts,” he said.
Copenhagen added: “If there is a problem with this truck, this computer will alert the examiner or the expert who is looking at this data. »
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The incident happened at the Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita. (Google Maps)
Why does toxicology take so long?
Copenhagen said that in his experience, alcohol-related DUI test results usually come back within a day.
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“If it’s alcohol-related, they’ll know instantly,” he said.
He added: “Once the blood is taken, once it goes through the machines (the investigators), they will be able to tell you if a person is under the influence of alcohol.”
He said testing for other substances like hard drugs or medication can take much longer. These require “specialized testing,” he said.
It’s also possible the woman took prescription medication, which could have impacted her driving, he added.
Tests to detect this take “longer than the normal blood test,” he said.
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Aaron Moses of the Wichita, Kansas Police Department briefs the media following an incident on a football field Saturday. (Wichita Police Department)
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In a statement sent to Fox News Digital, the Wichita Police Department dismissed questions circulating on social media about whether there was a law enforcement connection.
“The Wichita Police Department is aware of false information circulating on social media regarding this investigation, including a rumor alleging that a deputy from the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office was involved,” the department said in part. “The Sheriff’s Office has publicly responded to this allegation and identified it as false.”
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The ministry added: “We ask everyone to be responsible for what they share, to consider the damage that misinformation can cause, and to allow investigators to do their work based on facts and evidence, not speculation.”
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Asked by Fox News Digital about allegations of possible ties between the driver and law enforcement, the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office referred questions to the Wichita Police Department.
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