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The Illinois State Police have identified both the driver and the victims involved in a tragic accident that resulted in the deaths of three children and one teenager at an after-school program in Chatham, Illinois.
The incident occurred around 3:20 p.m. on Monday at the YNOT Outdoors Summer and After School camp when a vehicle collided with the east side of the building.
The car hit several individuals outside before crashing into the structure, impacting many who were inside. The vehicle eventually broke through the opposite side of the building and came to a halt.
On Tuesday morning, police named the driver as 44-year-old Marianne Akers from Chatham. She is currently not in custody as authorities continue their investigation into the event.
Among the deceased are three girls aged 7 and 8, alongside an 18-year-old woman, identified by the Sangamon County coroner as Ainsley Johnson (8), Rylee Britton (18), Kathryn Corley (7), and Alma Buhnerkempe (7), all from Chatham or nearby communities.
The coroner confirmed that all four victims were declared dead at the scene and that an initial investigation attributed their deaths to injuries from the crash.
In addition to the fatalities, six other children sustained injuries, with most being transported to nearby hospitals. One child required airlift via a medical helicopter, and as of Tuesday morning, one remained in critical condition.
State police are investigating the crash and do not currently believe it was a deliberate act.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker expressed his devastation over the incident, stating he was “horrified and deeply saddened” by the loss of young lives. In a post on X, he shared, “Our community lost a group of bright and innocent young people with their whole lives ahead of them,” adding his condolences to the affected families who face unimaginable grief.
Chatham is located about 12 miles south of Springfield in Sangamon County, separate from the South Side Chicago neighborhood that shares its name.
As of Tuesday morning, Illinois State Police had not released further information or indicated whether charges against Akers are forthcoming. She was reportedly uninjured but was taken to a local hospital for evaluation, with toxicology results still pending.
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