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“Law enforcement certainly needed to do a better job as to describing why these charges haven’t been filed.”
Jamie Copenhaver, a former sheriff’s detective in Florida who had worked with an FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, is curious as to why law enforcement has been tight-lipped about the lack of charges in the horrific Kansas soccer field crash.
A mother walked away with no charges after investigators say she drove onto the active field at Stryker Sports Complex where children and families were present – killing two and injuring several others.
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It happened on Saturday; Cole Adrian, 6, and Nicholas Schafer, 35, who were both from McPherson, were killed. The woman behind the wheel was released after being interviewed by investigators that day.
Wichita Police said she was released “pending the results of toxicology testing and a mechanical examination of the vehicle.”
Police said in a statement Tuesday that they have interviewed nearly 50 witnesses, with more interviews 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.”
The driver remained at the scene and has been cooperative, they said.
“Based on the information available Sunday morning, and after consultation with the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office, investigators did not have probable cause to arrest the driver. She was released, and the investigation remains ongoing. Her release does not represent a final determination about whether criminal charges are appropriate.”
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“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 Joe Sullivan said. “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.”
The driver had a valid driver’s license and no outstanding arrest warrants, police said.
They dispelled rumors circulating online, noting that the driver is not in the country illegally, has no documented criminal history, and no association with the Wichita Police Department, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, or any other law enforcement agency.
Andrew Ford, a spokesperson for the Wichita Police Department, told TMZ that the driver was interviewed 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 about why this happened, including whether speeding, mechanical failure, or drugs or alcohol played a factor.
Wichita police could not immediately be reached for comment.
Did the driver suffer a medical emergency?
No information on the driver’s medical condition at the time of the crash has been released.
Copenhaver said it may be necessary for law enforcement to release information on the woman’s physical health condition at the time of incident to “prevent conspiracy theories.”
“People need to know a little bit more transparency as to why this may have occurred,” he said.
Did her vehicle malfunction?
Police said that the black pickup truck involved in the incident was going to undergo mechanical testing. Copenhaver said the black box will be able to give a better idea of whether something went mechanically wrong before the deadly crash.
He said the data will reveal possible “contributing factors” like speed, whether she hit the brakes, timing of the braking, and how far the vehicle may have skidded.
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“It doesn’t take that long, in my opinion, to download that data, have one of their experts go over it,” he said.
Copenhaver went on to say, “If there’s an issue with that truck, that computer is going to alert the examiner or the expert that’s looking at this data.”
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Why is the toxicology taking so long?
Copenhaver said in his experience results from alcohol-related DUI testing usually comes back within a day.
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“If it’s alcohol-related, they’re going to know instantaneously,” he said.
He added, “Once that blood draw is taken, once it’s ran through the machines [investigators] will be able to tell you if an individual is under the influence of alcohol.”
He said testing for other substances like hard drugs or medications can take significantly longer. Those require “specialty testing,” he said.
There is also a possibility that the woman may have been taking prescription medication, which could have impacted her driving, he said.
Testing for that is “longer than that normal blood draw,” he said.
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In a statement sent to Fox News Digital, the Wichita Police Department shot down 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 Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office deputy was involved,” the department said in part. “The Sheriff’s Office has publicly addressed that allegation and identified it as false.”
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The department went on to say, “We ask everyone to be responsible with what they share, consider the harm misinformation can cause and allow investigators to do their work based on facts and evidence, not speculation.”
When asked by Fox News Digital about allegations of the driver’s possible connection to law enforcement, the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s office referred questions to the Wichita Police Department.
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