Illinois school program car crash claims fifth victim as eight-year-old boy dies five weeks after collision
An eight-year-old boy has died five weeks after suffering devastating injuries when a car plowed into a building used as an after-school camp.
Bradley Lund died on Monday morning after being struck by a car which veered into the YNOT Outdoors Summer and After School Camp in Chatham, Illinois, on April 28.
Lund had been in intensive care since the horrific incident which killed four other children, including Kathryn Corley and Alma Buhnerkempe, both aged seven, eight-year-old Ainsley Johnson and 18-year-old Rylee Britton.
The second-grader has been remembered for his 'bright smile, contagious laughter, and kind spirit.'
'From the very beginning, Bradley was a gentle, joyful soul - quiet and observant in new places, but endlessly sweet, silly and full of laughter at home and among those he loved most,' his obituary reads.
'His family and friends will always remember his playful spirit, his curiosity and the quiet joy he radiated.
'Bradley's time with us was heartbreakingly short, but his legacy of love, laughter, and creativity will live on forever in the hearts of all who knew him.'
Lund's exact cause of death has not yet been released but he suffered multiple blunt-force injuries from the impact of the crash.
The driver, 44-year-old Marianne Akers, had been driving her black Jeep home from work before the tragic moment it crashed into the building.
Akers' attorney, W. Scott Hanken, said that Akers had left work at 3pm and was travelling westbound when she suffered a seizure 'of some type of degree.'
'It rendered her completely and utterly incapacitated at the time, and as a result of that seizure, she has no recollection of what occurred,' he said.
'No one contemplated this happening. She surely didn't. It was a perfect storm of events that, if she could take back she would, just like anyone else,' Hanken told WICS.
Hanken has said since the incident, Akers has undergone medical testing and been seen by a neurologist to determine the cause of the seizure.
'We have met numerous times with law enforcement,' Hanken told Fox News. 'She has provided them with everything they've needed. She immediately provided them with her phone.'
Hanken added that the Illinois State Police performed a forensic download of her phone. He told the outlet that no clear findings have been made regarding the cause of any seizure.
Akers is also undergoing counselling to cope with the tragedy of the incident, Fox reported.
Police said that Akers' car left the road at around 3:20 pm and traveled through a field before crashing into the east sid e of the YNOT After School Camp, which stands for Youth Needing Other Things Outdoors.
Akers' Jeep then crossed a gravel road and crashed into a pole and a fence. She was transported to a local hospital but was uninjured and released.
She crashed her car into the east side of the facility with such force that it burst out the other side seconds later.
Five other children were injured in the devastating crash, including seven-year-old Ella Orsi who is still recovering after suffering facial fractures, a broken jaw, damaged teeth, brain swelling and brain bleeding.
A GoFundMe for Orsi said she is 'an absolute joy to be around' and 'loves to have fun, make jokes, and laugh.'
Three of the victims were hit by the Jeep as they stood outside the building, while a fourth person who died was inside the building, police said.
Six injured children, including Bradley, were rushed to hospital, including one with injuries so severe they had to be airlifted for treatment.
The teenage victim, Rylee Britton, was a high school student who helped run the after-school program and was planning on studying English and secondary education at Iowa University.
Her classmates described her as 'super intelligent' and 'unconditionally nice,' adding that she 'always made people laugh.'
Rylee's father, Zachary Britton, told the crowd at a vigil for the teen that seeing the support for his daughter made him smile.
'Our hearts are broken, but this helps a little bit,' USA Today reported.
Eight-year-old Ainsley Johnson danced at Studio M Dance Centre. Her dance instructor, Mariah Clark, said she always 'brought so much light and joy into my class.'
'Her smile was so bright, her personality was already so big at such a young age, and she danced like she meant it. I will forever keep Ainsley in my heart,' Clark added.
Kathryn Corley went by the nickname Kit Kat and was described in her obituary as 'brightening the lives of everyone she encountered with her loving nature and unforgettable personality.'
Alma Buhnerkempe was remembered for 'coming into this world exactly how she lived – in a burst of activity.'
'From that point on, she never stopped. She lit up our world with an infectious energy, a goofy sense of humor, and a sense of compassion that was boundless.'
Illinois Governor JB Prtizker shared a heartfelt message in the aftermath of the tragedy.
'Parents said goodbye to their kids this morning not knowing it would be the last time.
'Our community lost a group of bright and innocent young people with their whole lives ahead of them. Let's wrap our arms around the community tonight as we receive updates on the situation.'
Devastated locals recalled the moment their neighbors, friends, and loved ones learned of the tragedy and rushed to the scene.
'Watching people you know sprint past your house, not knowing if their children are safe, is a gut-wrenching experience. My heart aches for everyone,' one wrote.
Illinois Senator Doris Turner said she was 'heartbroken' by the tragedy.
'When we drop our kids off in the morning, we should always have the utmost belief that they will come home safely at the end of the day,' she wrote.
'For some families, that belief was shaken today following the tragedy at YNOT in Chatham.
'I am heartbroken - there truly are no words to explain what the Chatham community is feeling and will feel for days, weeks and months to come. I want to thank the first responders, law enforcement and volunteers.'
Police said that an initial toxicology report showed that Akers was not under the influence of any substances.
Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly said following the crash that there was 'no evidence that would indicate that this was something intended as some type of mass violence, or a terrorist attack,' CBS News reported.
It was confirmed that Akers was the only one in the vehicle at the time of the crash.
Akers is a former employee of the Illinois State Police and the local high school, the outlet reported. She now works as an office assistant at the Illinois Department of Transportation.
State police said Akers has been cooperative in the investigation.
Kelly added that the data recorder from the vehicle is being used in the investigation.
'It is a lot, but it doesn't necessarily mean it's going to tell you everything,' Kelly said last month.
'It's not a magic tool that will solve every crime, but it is circumstantial evidence that, along with other things, can be considered.'
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