A six-year-old boy and a 35-year-old man have died after a truck drove through a youth football pitch during a game in Wichita, Kansas, authorities have confirmed. Eleven other people were taken to hospital following the incident on Saturday afternoon.
The vehicle struck the playing area while a youth match was under way, leaving multiple casualties among those present. Emergency services attended the scene, and police were visible at the location on Saturday afternoon as the response unfolded.
The names of the deceased have not been released. The condition of those receiving hospital treatment has not been disclosed, and it is not yet clear how many of the injured are children. Authorities have not commented on the circumstances that led to the truck entering the pitch.
The incident has shocked the local community in Wichita, a city in southern Kansas, where youth football games are a regular weekend fixture. The pitch was hosting a children's match at the time of the collision, according to reports.
Police have not said whether the driver remained at the scene or whether any arrest has been made. The investigation is at an early stage, and further details are expected as authorities work to establish the sequence of events.
The deaths bring the toll to two, with the injured requiring hospital care. The ages of those hurt have not been confirmed, though the presence of a youth team suggests that children were among those on the pitch.
Local officials have yet to issue a statement beyond the confirmation of the casualties. The case has drawn attention to safety at community sports events, although no details have emerged to indicate whether the collision was deliberate or accidental.
Wichita authorities are continuing to examine the scene and gather witness accounts. The investigation is expected to clarify how the truck came to leave the road and enter the playing area during the match.