A tragic crash in Chatham, Illinois, left four young people dead and six others injured Monday after a car drove through an after-school facility.
Illinois State Police say there is no indication the incident was a targeted attack, though the cause remains under investigation.
The crash occurred around 3:20 p.m. at YNOT Outdoors, a local after-school program located just south of Springfield, Illinois. According to investigators, a vehicle veered off the road for unknown reasons, crossed a field, and slammed into the building—striking multiple children inside—before exiting out the other side.
The four victims were identified by the Sangamon County Coroner’s Office as three young girls from Chatham: Alma Buhnerkempe and Kathryn Corley, both 7, and Ainsley Johnson, 8. The fourth fatality was Rylee Britton, an 18-year-old from Springfield. All were remembered by friends and family as vibrant, kind, and full of life.
Alma’s mother described her daughter as a “ray of sunshine” who adored sports, travel, and her family—especially her younger brother, Will, who has autism. “She loved and supported him the only way a big sister could,” said her mother, Billie Buhnerkempe.
The driver, 44-year-old Marianne Akers of Chatham, was the sole occupant of the vehicle. She was not injured but was taken to the hospital for evaluation. Police have not made any arrests, and Akers is not currently in custody. Toxicology tests are pending, and authorities continue to investigate what led to the vehicle leaving the road.
“This does not appear to be a targeted attack,” state police said in a statement Tuesday morning. “The cause remains under investigation.”
Shock and Mourning Across the Community
The YNOT Outdoors facility, which offers after-school and summer programs for school-age children, became the epicenter of grief overnight.
Flowers, stuffed animals, and handwritten messages were left outside the damaged building. Video footage showed a gaping hole in the side of the structure and emergency vehicles surrounding the site.
JUST IN: The school food worker who drove through an after-school program, k*lling three children and a teenager, remains free
— Unlimited L's (@unlimited_ls) April 29, 2025
Marianne Akers, 44, drove her black Jeep through the YNOT Outdoors After School Camp in Chatham, Illinois
Four victims were killed: Ainsley Grace… pic.twitter.com/YnGwIdvhXY
Former YNOT camp counselor Braelynn Finley, 20, rushed to the scene upon hearing the news but was blocked from reaching the site due to police activity. “I just felt frozen and sick,” she said. Finley personally knew all four victims, describing the girls as funny and sweet. She called Britton “amazing.”
Other families shared similar gratitude for the staff’s courage during the ordeal. One mother whose child was at the after-school facility, in Illinois during the crash said she was “eternally grateful” to the young counselors who helped evacuate the children. “They’re almost kids themselves, but they stayed calm and got the children to safety,” she said.
Six children were hospitalized following the crash. One was treated and released from HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, while the others were admitted to a pediatric trauma unit.
Grief Support and District Response
The Ball-Chatham School District, where all four victims were students, shifted classes to e-learning through Thursday and canceled extracurricular activities. Glenwood Middle School opened its doors to offer grief counseling services to students and families.
“We are mourning the loss of four children and focusing on the well-being of our students,” said Chatham Village President David Kimsey. The district has deployed additional counselors, social workers, therapy dogs, and support staff to assist grieving students. In-person counseling will resume Friday at local schools.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker issued a statement Monday evening offering his condolences. “My heart is heavy for these families and the unimaginable grief they’re experiencing—something no parent should ever have to endure,” he said. He confirmed that state agencies are closely monitoring the investigation.
Chatham Police, who have referred all inquiries to Illinois State Police, posted a message to residents on Facebook: “A terrible tragedy has occurred here that has affected all of us. If you believe in the power of prayer, please take a moment to pray right now for the entire Chatham community.”
YNOT founder Jamie Loftus echoed the sentiment. “Our families who suffered loss and injury today are hurting very, very badly. They are friends, and their kids are like our kids,” she wrote in a Facebook post.
Chatham, a tight-knit village of about 14,000 people, is struggling to come to terms with the loss. As the investigation continues, the community remains united in grief, determined to support one another through the unimaginable.