“LAUGH LIKE COLE, LOVE LIKE COLE, LIVE LIKE COLE”: 6-YEAR-OLD BOY LAID TO REST AFTER TRAGIC KANSAS SOCCER FIELD CRASH

Family, friends, classmates and community members gathered in McPherson to honor Cole Adrian, whose young life was cut short when a pickup truck drove onto a soccer field in Wichita. Schools closed so staff and students could attend the funeral and remember the little boy who brought joy to those around him.

A COMMUNITY GATHERS TO SAY GOODBYE

A grieving Kansas community came together on Monday, October 26, to say goodbye to six-year-old Cole Adrian, a kindergarten student whose death has left his family, classmates and neighbors heartbroken.

Cole’s funeral was held at McPherson Free Methodist Church in McPherson, where family members, friends and members of the community gathered to remember his life. A private graveside service followed.

The family invited mourners to wear soccer jerseys, blue clothing or camouflage in honor of Cole’s favorite things. These simple details offered those attending a personal way to celebrate the little boy they loved while supporting his family through an unimaginable loss.

A TRAGEDY AT A YOUTH SOCCER COMPLEX

Cole died on October 17, when a Chevrolet pickup truck drove onto a soccer field at Stryker Sports Complex in northeast Wichita while games were taking place.

According to the Wichita Police Department, emergency dispatchers received multiple calls at approximately 3:25 p.m. reporting that a vehicle had entered the playing area and struck several people.

Cole and 35-year-old Nicholas Schafer, also from McPherson, died at the scene. Ten other people, ranging in age from five to 68, were injured and transported to area hospitals. The two people who died were not related.

What should have been an ordinary day of youth sports became a devastating event for families, players, spectators and first responders.

HIS FATHER REMEMBERS A BOY WHO FOUND JOY IN EVERYDAY LIFE

At the funeral, Cole’s father, Chris Adrian, paid tribute to his son and remembered the happiness the young boy brought to those around him.

According to The Guardian, Chris recalled Cole’s energetic personality and his habit of describing ordinary days as “the best day ever.”

The tribute reflected the spirit his family hopes people will continue to remember: a child whose enthusiasm and joy could make even everyday moments feel special.

The family’s message, “Laugh Like Cole, Love Like Cole, Live Like Cole,” has become a way to carry his memory forward.

The words encourage those who knew Cole—and those moved by his story—to embrace the happiness, kindness and love he represented to his family.

SCHOOLS CLOSE AS CLASSMATES AND STAFF HONOR COLE

McPherson Public Schools closed on October 26 so teachers, staff members and others in the school community could attend Cole’s funeral.

Cole was a kindergarten student at Roosevelt Elementary School. His death deeply affected the district, which said it continued to grieve alongside students, families and staff.

Superintendent Dr. Cody Rierson acknowledged the community’s loss and expressed gratitude for the compassion and support people had shown one another.

The district also worked to provide support for students and families as they navigated the emotional impact of the tragedy.

For Cole’s classmates, the loss of a young friend is especially difficult to understand. The school closure allowed the wider community to come together and support one another during a painful moment.

THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE CRASH CONTINUES

Wichita police continue investigating the circumstances that led to the October 17 crash.

The 34-year-old driver was released after investigators consulted with the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office. Police said they were awaiting toxicology results and a mechanical examination of the vehicle, and that no charges had been filed in the latest official update cited here.

Investigators have interviewed witnesses and continued reviewing evidence to determine how the truck entered the soccer field. Authorities have urged the public to rely on verified information and avoid spreading unconfirmed claims while the investigation remains active.

A LEGACY OF LOVE

As Cole’s family begins life without him, the support of friends, neighbors, classmates and strangers has offered a measure of comfort amid their grief.

The blue clothing, soccer jerseys and camouflage worn in his honor were more than funeral attire. They were reminders of a young boy’s favorite things and of the people determined to keep his memory alive.

Cole was only six years old, but the message shared in his honor offers a lasting tribute to the joy he brought into the lives of others.

Laugh like Cole. Love like Cole. Live like Cole.

May his family, friends and everyone affected by this tragedy find comfort in the memories they shared with him and strength in the community standing beside them.