Stryker Sports Complex reopened Monday after installing temporary safety barriers
By Ellisyn Sanders
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WICHITA, Kansas (KAKE) — Stryker Sports Complex reopened Monday afternoon, two days after a truck drove onto a soccer field and killed 6-year-old Cole Adrian, 35-year-old Nicholas Schafer, and injured 11 others.
For high school soccer players, Isaiah Daniels and Emmett Fruechting, coming back to a place that’s been a big part of their lives looked a little different.
“It was dead silent, there’s normally always something going on, but it was just complete dead silent,” Fruechting said.
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That silence followed after the devastating tragedy, just two days before.
“I definitely came in here heavy and emotional,” Daniels said.
Daniels says he hopes the barriers will help keep players safe moving forward.
“It definitely keeps the players safe when they’re on the field, and I think it was a good investment to have, so tragedies like this don’t happen again,” Daniels said.
The facility announced it would reopen at 3 p.m. Oct. 19, with temporary safety barriers being installed throughout the complex. According to the facility, the barriers will remain in place until permanent safety.
Ten others were injured in the crash and transported to area hospitals with noncritical injuries. The driver was released pending toxicology results and a mechanical examination of the pickup. No charges had been filed as of the latest police update.
Stryker also announced mental health support would be available through Sedgwick County COMCARE at the complex from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Monday through Wednesday.
People seeking support could also call or text 988 or call COMCARE at 316-660-7500.
A community vigil was being planned for Wednesday evening, with details expected to be announced once finalized.
Wichita police confirmed there was no ongoing threat to the community and encouraged people to rely on official updates rather than share unverified information.
The investigation into the crash is still ongoing.
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