As questions remain about the deadly crash at youth soccer game in Wichita, Kansas, local law enforcement offered a glimpse into the investigation and sought to dispel rumors swirling about the driver.
Police said a 34-year-old mother who had two of her children in the vehicle with her parked at Stryker Sports Complex before the truck barreled onto the field on Oct. 17. Cole Adrian, 6, and Nicholas Schafer, 35, were killed. Ten others were injured.
The driver cooperated with authorities and was released from custody pending the results of toxicology testing and examination of the vehicle, police have said. The Wichita Police Department said in a statement Oct. 20 that investigators consulted with the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office
and determined they did not have probable cause to arrest the driver based on the information available on the morning of Sunday, Oct. 18.
The driver's release without chargessparked some online scrutiny, but Wichita police noted that doing so "does not represent a final determination about whether criminal charges are appropriate." Legal experts told USA TODAY there is a range of potential charges she could face depending on the outcome of the investigation.
“We know that this case has captured the attention of people all over the country, and many of those people have strong opinions about the incident even though they do not have direct knowledge of what occurred,” Chief of Police Joe Sullivan said in the statement. “We recognize that the decision the law and constitution required us to make on Sunday morning may not be popular. We swear an oath to support the laws of the State of Kansas and the Constitution of the United States and no one in the Wichita Police Department takes that oath for granted.”
What we know about the investigation into deadly Kansas soccer crash
Wichita police said that the number of witnesses and people involved in the incident interviewed by detectives has risen to nearly 50 and that additional interviews are ongoing.
"Investigators are also inspecting the truck, analyzing available vehicle data and continuing investigative work at Stryker Sports Complex," police said. "They are working closely with the Regional Forensic Science Center and awaiting official, peer-reviewed toxicology results."
Meanwhile, the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement that prosecutors have completed an initial review of the case. The district attorney's office said there is no timeline for when a charging decision will be made and it will "depend on the completion and review of all relevant investigative materials, including toxicology results and the vehicle examination."
Who is the driver? Police dispel rumors
Police have only identified the driver as a 34-year-old mother of at least three children from Garden City, Kansas. Officials said she has no documented criminal history, no outstanding arrest warrants and a valid driver's license.
Wichita police disputed rumors that the driver is in the country illegally and that she or her husband have ties to law enforcement.
"We understand the public’s interest and the concern surrounding this investigation. But spreading rumors and unverified accusations adds confusion, causes further pain for grieving families and harms people who have no connection to this case," police said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Wichita police dispute rumors about driver in deadly soccer crash
