Two Johnson County Catholic schools that had students present during a deadly incident at a sports complex in Wichita, Kansas, are responding with concern and prayers.

Both St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Overland Park and St. James Academy issued statements expressing sadness after a woman drove a pickup truck through a soccer field, killing two people and injuring 10 others on Saturday.

“Our hearts and prayers are with the families and individuals affected by this tragedy. While we are grateful for the safety of our team, we recognize the tremendous pain and sorrow this tragedy has brought to so many families and the surrounding community,” Judy Callahan, director of strategic communications, said in an email to the Johnson County Post.

Both schools, as well as Shawnee Mission West and Shawnee Mission South, were playing at a field near the incident as part of the inaugural state girls flag football championship. No student-athletes, staff or family members associated with those teams were injured.

In response, both Catholic high schools are asking the community to come together in prayer. Last night, St. James Academy hosted a rosary at its chapel to pray for everyone affected by the incident.

St. Thomas Aquinas High School athletes and families will host a prayer vigil at 5:30 p.m. Monday evening, Callahan said.

“(We) pray, asking God to wrap His loving arms around all those affected. We pray especially for those who are injured and for the eternal rest of those who have lost their lives,” she said.

The incident occurred on Saturday

At about 3:25 p.m. on Saturday, emergency responders were called to the Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita, where Wichita Police confirmed two individuals, a 6-year-old boy and a 35-year-old man, both from McPherson, Kansas, but not related, had been killed after a black pickup truck drove through a soccer field at the popular youth and rec league sports complex.

Eleven other people were taken to the hospital, 10 of those with traumatic but not life-threatening injuries, Wichita Police Capt. Aaron Moses said at a press conference that was livestreamed on Facebook.

According to police, those injured range in age from 5 to 68. Five children are among those injured.

The driver of the truck, a 34-year-old woman from Garden City, Kansas, was released from custody on Sunday, pending the results of a toxicology report and a vehicle inspection, according to KCUR.

A preliminary investigation shows the woman had been parked in a parking space near the soccer fields before driving onto one of the fields and striking multiple people, according to a release from the Wichita Police Department on Sunday.

JoCo schools express sadness, support

Following the incident, Johnson County high schools issued responses confirming that student-athletes, staff and family were safe and that the victims were in their thoughts.

“All SMSD families and staff are accounted for, and our thoughts are with all those involved and impacted by today’s tragedy,” Jake Potter, a Shawnee Mission School District spokesperson, said in a message to the Johnson County Post.

St. James Academy was proud to organize a rosary on Sunday night to help people grieve, St. James Academy President Andy Tylicki said in a message to the Johnson County Post.

“While we are proud of our girls’ achievement in reaching the state final, we are even more proud that they have turned to our Lord in the face of this tragedy,” he said.