FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- A woman who told police she had to see a former New England Patriots football player crashed her car through a security gate at Gillette Stadium Saturday, and then drove 40 yards down the team's practice field before stopping.

Cheryl Richards, 41, is being held for observation at Caritas Norwood Hospital, Foxborough police said, reported WCVB-TV in Boston.

Patriots spokesman Stacey James told The Boston Herald that Richards drove her car through the gate minutes before the Dana Farber Cancer Institute was to begin a blood drive on the field inside the practice bubble.

Richards had told security guards that she wanted to see Chris Slade, who last played for the team seven years ago. Slade was a Patriots linebacker until 2000.

"A vehicle showed up at the security shack and tried to gain entrance," police Sgt. Michael Grace said. "She was denied, but got back into her car and drove right through the gate."

Twenty people were on the field when Richards' 2003 Acura sedan drove onto the field. Grace said they were "thankfully" in a different area and no one was hurt.

Police said they don't know what, if any, relationship Slade has to Richards. Richards has been charged by Foxborough police with motor vehicle violations.