The identities of four young girls tragically killed when a car ploughed into an after-school camp building have been released.
The horrifying incident took place at the YNOT after-school daycare on Breckenridge Road in Chatham, Illinois, around 3.20pm on Monday, April 28. Authorities reported that the car hit several people before exiting the other side of the structure. Six children were rushed to hospital, with one in a critical condition.
The driver, identified as 44 year old Marianne Akers, was not arrested but taken to a hospital for evaluation. Police do not suspect it was a deliberate attack. The crash is still under investigation.
READ MORE: Russia sends horror WW3 threat to UK – ‘British blood must be spilled’
The Sangamon County coroner confirmed that Kathryn Corley, 7, Alma Buhnerkempe, 7, Ainsley Johnson, 8, and Rylee Britton, 18, lost their lives when the vehicle veered off the road and smashed into the Chatham building.
Alma Buhnerkempe’s mother, Billie, described her daughter as “sweet, outgoing, silly and funny.” She told NBC News: “She loved her friends and family fiercely. She loved playing soccer, basketball and doing gymnastics,” reports the Mirror US.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker expressed his shock and deep sorrow over the incident, stating: “My heart is heavy for these families and the unimaginable grief they’re experiencing – something that no parent should ever have to endure”.
Illinois State Police issued a statement on Tuesday April 29, which read: “The Illinois State Police (ISP) continues its investigation into a fatal crash that occurred Monday afternoon in Chatham. The driver of the vehicle involved in the crash has been identified as 44-year-old Marianne Akers of Chatham. Akers is not in custody at this time as the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
“At approximately 3:20 p.m. on April 28, 2025, a vehicle left the road for unknown reasons, traveled through a field and into the east side of the YNOT After School Camp located at 301 Breckenridge Road in Chatham. The car traveled through the building striking numerous individuals before exiting the otherside. Four individuals were killed in the crash, two 7-year-olds, an 8-year-old, and an 18-year-old.
“Six additional children were taken to area hospitals and one remains in critical condition. The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, Akers, was uninjured and transported to an area hospital for evaluation. Toxicology reports are pending. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, but this does not appear to be a targeted attack.
“ISP traffic crash reconstruction, patrol, crime scene services, and criminal investigations all responded to the scene along with Chatham Police Department, Chatham Fire Department, Springfield Police Department, Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office, the Sangamon County Coroner, and numerous other first responders.
“This is an active investigation and no additional information is available at this time. ISP offers its sincere and heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, and Chatham community during this difficult time.”
This tragic event occurred just two days after a car drove through a crowded street during a Filipino heritage festival in Vancouver, British Columbia, claiming the lives of 11 people aged between 5 and 65. Kai-Ji Adam Lo, 30, has been charged with eight counts of second degree murder in relation to the Vancouver incident. Officials have dismissed terrorism as a motive, stating that Lo had a history of mental health problems.
At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the “Do Not Sell or Share my Data” button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of cookies and consent to the practices described in our Privacy Notice and Cookie Notice.
