Four dead after car crashes through after-school camp – BBC
2025-04-29T05:44:29Z
The victims at the YNOT After School Camp are believed to range in age from four to 18, authorities say.
Four dead after car crashes through after-school camp
The incident happened about three miles south of the Illinois state capital Springfield
Illinois State Police identified the driver of the vehicle as 44-year-old Chatham resident Marianne Akers, and the crash “does not appear to be a targeted attack”.
The victims were named on Tuesday by the county coroner as Ainsley Johnson, 8; Kathryn Corley, 7; Alma Buhnerkempe, 7; and 18-year-old Rylee Britton.
The vehicle struck multiple people outside a building being used by the YNOT After School Camp, then continued through the building, hitting others before exiting out the opposite side.
Three young girls and a teenager were killed and six other children were injured when a vehicle drove through a building used by an after-school camp in Illinois.
The incident was still under investigation, police said, and Ms Akers was not under arrest.
Police said they responded to the scene at about 15:30 local time (21:30 BST) on Monday. Three of the dead girls were struck by the vehicle outside the building, while one victim was hit inside the building.
Police from other jurisdictions in Illinois attended the scene to secure the area and help victims and parents locate their children, according to CBS, the BBC’s US partner.
Footage posted online appeared to show large holes in the building. Traffic near the scene was also shut down.
Six children were injured and taken to hospital by ambulance and helicopter, and one of the victims remained in a critical condition on Tuesday.
Police said Ms Akers was unhurt and was taken to hospital for evaluation.
In a post on X, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said his administration was monitoring the crash.
“Let’s wrap our arms around the community tonight as we receive updates on the situation,” he wrote.
Illinois state senator Doris Turner said she was “heartbroken” by the incident and that her office was ready to assist local authorities.
Chatham Police Department promoted links to online fundraisers set up to pay medical costs for the injured children.
YNOT After School Camp runs outdoor programs for children, including field trips and activities such as hiking and fishing, according to their website.
Chatham is a village of 14,000 people about three miles (4.8km) outside of the state capital Springfield.
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