29-04-2025
Marianne Akers, 44, identified as driver who killed four girls at after school club… but she's NOT in custody
A school food service worker was behind the wheel of a car that plowed through an after-school program and killed three young kids and a teen.
Marianne Akers' black Jeep rammed straight through the YNOT Outdoors Summer and After School Camp in Chatham, Illinois, about 3.20pm on Monday.
An 8-year-old, two 7-year-olds, and an 18-year-old woman were killed and six others were injured. Only one is still in critical condition.
Akers, 44, was filmed in handcuffs, with her hair in a messy bun and wearing a dark gray T-shirt.
But police said she was taken to a local hospital for assessment with toxicology results still pending, and was not under arrest.
Akers is a food service worker at Chatham Elementary School and a mother of two children - a teenage boy and girl.
Three of the victims were hit by the Jeep as they stood outside the building, while the fourth person who died was inside the building, authorities said.
The six injured victims were rushed to hospital, including one with injuries so severe they had to be airlifted for treatment.
Akers is understood to have crashed her car into the east side of the school facility with such force that it crashed out the other side seconds later.
She walked away physically unscathed in the horror accident, but was taken to hospital for further evaluation.
The program is designed for school-aged children and is run by college students and 'very mature' high school seniors - most of whom have ambitions themselves of one day becoming educators.
Police said on Monday evening the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker expressed his horror on Monday afternoon, writing: '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 have recalled the moment their neighbors, friends and loved ones learned of the tragedy and rushed to the scene.
One wrote: '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.'
Employees and volunteers at the local blood bank, Impact Life, are urging locals to come down to give blood this week, revealing they've drained much of their stockpile helping victims of the tragedy.
'After the tragic events today the blood bank is running low, please if your able go donate,' one woman wrote.
Another said: 'I work at the Blood Center, and we had to pack up so much of our supply for this, so please if you can donate blood, platelets, any of it, go do it.'
Illinois Senator Doris Turner also issued a statement, saying she is '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 Y.N.O.T. 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.' The local Chick-Fil-A has offered all first responders a free meal today and tomorrow in response to the tragedy.
YNOT is a summer and after school camp - offering three hours of care for busy parents with little ones.
It is staffed by college students and 'very mature high-school seniors.'
The Chatham Baptist Church has become the makeshift reunification point for families who have children at YNOT.
