A 28-year-old Grand Island woman is facing multiple charges after police say she drove through a fence and across a youth soccer practice field on Thursday while about 15 kids were on it, with her own 8-year-old son in the car. No players were hurt, though one reportedly scrambled to hide inside a soccer goal as the vehicle passed through.
Police said Shoni Bussinger left the roadway and entered the practice field used by Grand Island Senior High near the intersection of Custer Avenue and State Street, according to Police Division Chief Nikki Duerling, as reported by the Omaha World-Herald. About 15 young soccer players were on the field, and Bussinger's 8-year-old son was in the car with her. Nebraska.tv reported that the car drove through a fence and entered the field where numerous children were playing.
Central Nebraska Today reported that approximately 15 youths, about 14 years old, were on the practice field playing soccer when the car entered, and that one of them hid inside a soccer goal to get out of the way — no one was injured. The outlet also reported that Bussinger's son in the vehicle was 8 years old. Officers determined that about $2,000 in property was damaged in the incident, per the same account.
Driver Fled, Then Was Found Walking Blocks Away
After leaving the field, Bussinger exited the area heading east on State Street, police said. Police had received reports of reckless driving near Grand Island Senior High.
Nebraska.tv reported that Bussinger was found walking near 15th Street and Grand Island Avenue alongside her minor son and was subsequently arrested; the vehicle was found abandoned several blocks away with disabling damage. Nebraska.tv reported that Bussinger refused officers’ commands, and police said she was believed to be intoxicated.
Multiple Charges, Prior Record Cited
Bussinger was arrested on suspicion of leaving the scene of an accident, willful reckless driving, second-offense DUI, refusal to submit to an alcohol test, unlawful operation of a motor vehicle with a person under age 16, obstructing a peace officer and felony intentional child abuse causing no injury, according to Central Nebraska Today. She was being held in the Hall County jail on $150,000 bond, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for Nov. 17, per KSNB Local4.
Court records cited by Nebraska.tv indicate Bussinger has two previous convictions for leaving the scene of a crash and one prior DUI conviction.
Echoes of a Deadlier Crash in Kansas
The Grand Island incident comes less than a week after a far deadlier case in Wichita, Kansas, where a woman drove a truck through a youth soccer game at a city sports complex on Oct. 17, killing a 6-year-old boy and a 35-year-old man and injuring 10 others, according to NBC News. The injured in that crash, which happened at the Stryker Sports Complex, included five children ages 5 to 9 and five adults between 28 and 68, NBC News reported. Police in Wichita said it remained unclear whether that incident was intentional as they awaited toxicology and vehicle mechanical-examination results.
No such determination has been made in the Grand Island case, and police have not said what led Bussinger onto the field.
