Authorities have released the names of four young victims killed Monday afternoon when a vehicle crashed into an after-school program building in Chatham.
The Sangamon County Coroner’s Office confirmed that Ainsley Johnson, 8, of Chatham; Rylee Britton, 18, of Springfield; Kathryn Corley, 7, of Chatham; and Alma Buhnerkempe, 7, of Chatham, all died as a result of multiple blunt force injuries sustained in the crash. Postmortem examinations were conducted Tuesday.
The Illinois State Police (ISP) said the crash occurred around 3:20 p.m. on April 28, when a vehicle left the roadway for unknown reasons, traveled through a field, and slammed into the east side of the YNOT After School Camp at 301 Breckenridge Road. The vehicle continued through the building, striking several people before exiting the other side.
In addition to the four fatalities, six other children were transported to area hospitals. One child remains in critical condition.
The driver, identified as 44-year-old Marianne Akers of Chatham, was the sole occupant of the vehicle. She was not injured in the crash and was taken to a hospital for evaluation. Toxicology results are pending, and ISP officials say the incident does not appear to have been a targeted attack. Akers is not currently in custody as the investigation continues.
Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including ISP crash reconstruction units, Chatham police and fire departments, Springfield Police, the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sangamon County Coroner.
The ISP expressed condolences to the families and the community, calling the event a devastating tragedy. No further information is available at this time.
