Authorities respond after deadly vehicle crash at after-school camp claims multiple lives
A vehicle crashed into an after-school camp on Chatham, Illinois, on Apr. 28, causing the deaths of four people, including children. (Source: Aarika Jo via Facebook)
Illinois State Police identified Marianne Akers on Tuesday as the driver whose car crashed into an after-school camp yesterday in Chatham, leaving four people and multiple children dead.
Officials announced that the 44-year-old from Chatham is "not in custody at this time as the cause of the crash remains under investigation."
The deadly incident occurred at around 3:20 p.m. when a car left the road for unknown reasons and went through a building at the YNOT After School Camp in Chatham, according to state police. The camp is about 11 miles south of Springfield.
"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," state police said Tuesday.
4 PEOPLE, INCLUDING CHILDREN, KILLED AFTER VEHICLE CRASHES INTO ILLINOIS AFTER-SCHOOL CAMP
Jennifer Walston, 43, hugs daughter Lexi Walston, 6, while sisters Briley Walston, 9, and Madison Foster, 10, placed flowers and stuffed animals at the site where several were killed on Monday, when a car barreled through a building used for an after-school camp in Chatham, Ill. (AP/John O'Connor)
The Sangamon County Coroner's Office identified the victims as Kathryn Corley, 7, Alma Buhnerkempe, 7, and Ainsley Johnson, 8, of Chatham, and Rylee Britton, 18, of Springfield.
"All four girls were pronounced deceased at the scene," it said. "Postmortem procedures done today indicate that they all died from multiple blunt force injuries sustained in the incident."
It’s unclear at this point whether Akers has an attorney.
The car traveled through the building and struck several victims inside before exiting the other side.
Emergency vehicles and personnel outside YNOT Outdoors, an after-school program in the 300 block of North Breckenridge in Chatham, Ill., on April 28. (Thomas J. Turney/The State Journal-Register / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
CHICAGO FIRE CAPTAIN KILLED IN LINE OF DUTY AFTER GARAGE COLLAPSES FOLLOWING EARLY MORNING INFERNO
"Six additional children were taken to area hospitals and one remains in critical condition," state police said Tuesday.
"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," it also said.
On its website, YNOT Outdoors – which is short for Youth Needing Other Things – said "Please keep the families of Chatham YNOT and our staff in your prayers." and "We could sure use them."
"YNOT Outdoors formed in 2002, as a way for parents to place their kids into a safe, fun, active and stimulating summer environment, while maintaining a dependable drop-off and pickup location, with space for our program to operate, if the weather does not cooperate with our outdoor, scheduled events," it said.
The incident took place at the YNOT After School Camp on Monday. (Aarika Jo via Facebook)
In a post on Facebook, the organization's founder Jamie Loftus wrote: "I cannot gather the words to express much of anything that will make sense in print. However, I do know that our families who suffered loss and injury today, are hurting very, very badly. They are friends and their kids are like our kids. The Village of Chatham and Ball Chatham Schools are going to need their populations and that of the outside world to love them, pray for them, think of them and, at the same time, give them space and respect.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Illinois State Police said the incident remains an "active investigation" and that it "offers its sincere and heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, and Chatham community during this difficult time."
Fox News Digital’s Andrea Margolis and Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.
True Crime
The hottest stories ripped from the headlines, from crime to courts, legal and scandal.
By entering your email and clicking the Subscribe button, you agree to the Fox News Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can opt-out at any time.
