Latest news with #BradleyLund
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Chatham 5K proceeds to be donated in crash victim's honor
CHATHAM, Ill. (WCIA) — Proceeds from this year's Chatham Jaycees Sweetcorn Festival 5K will be donated in honor of Bradley Lund, who died on Monday as a result of the April crash into the YNOT after school camp. In a Facebook post on Thursday, Chatham Jaycees said that all of the proceeds from this year's run/walk will be donated to The Backyard at the Library in honor of 8-year-old Bradley Lund and the Lund Family. Lund was the fifth child who died as a result of the crash. Dana-Thomas House Foundation donates $50k for historic Springfield site restoration 'Words cannot express what the Lund family means to our community, our kids, and our organization,' Chatham Jaycees said in its post. They are also strongly encouraging people to register early so that they can order shirts and medals for all the participants. Additionally, Chatham Jaycees has extended the $5 registration discount through June 12. There is also going to be an option to make additional donations on the race's website. The event is family friendly, so participants can run, walk or even push strollers during the race. The 50th annual Sweetcorn Festival 5K will take place from 8-10 a.m. on July 19 at 700 S Main St. Registration ends at 11:59 p.m. on July 15. 'We can't wait to see you in July,' Chatham Jaycees said. 'Let's show up big for Bradley and continue to be together as a community.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
‘We knew he was fighting': Chatham community mourns fifth death in kids camp tragedy
CHATHAM, Ill. (WCIA) — A fifth child has died after a woman drove through the YNOT after school kids camp in Chatham. The Sangamon County Coroner said 8-year-old Bradley Lund died Monday morning after he'd been fighting for his life at the hospital following the April 28 accident. The crash also took the lives of 7-year-old Kathryn Corley, 7-year-old Alma Buhnerkempe, 8-year-old Ainsley Johnson and 18-year-old Rylee Britton. 'Hurting very, very badly': YNOT founder shares statement on Chatham tragedy A little more than a month after the tragedy, the community is still coming to terms with the losses. Red ribbons continue to wrap around trees and signs while the words 'Chatham Strong' remain plastered nearly everywhere in sight. Countless local businesses, organizations, schools and churches have hosted memorial events and fundraisers for the victims. Timothy Welch, Bank of Springfield vice president and branch manager, said a fund started by a family friend of the Lund's has been collecting money ever since the accident. 'It's something that's on people's minds all the time,' Welch said. 'Small or large, whatever [people] can do to support, it all comes together and creates something like we have now which is a huge fund.' Minutes down the road, Wheel Fast Bicycle Company helped plan a ride to raise money for Bradley's family. Investigation into fatal Chatham crash moves to Sangamon Co. State's Attorney's Office 'We knew he was fighting and battling,' owner Matthew Saner said. 'It's tragic what happened.' Both businesses said it's a privilege to help support a community that's been through so much. 'When something terrible happens, the way you measure a group of people is how they come together and support each other,' Welch said. 'I don't know if any place could have ever done a better job supporting each other than Chatham has.' Although the walls of the kids camp have since been patched up, the memory of the tragedy remains. Chatham Police have posted three other children who were hurt in the accident have gone home to their families. WCIA is unable to confirm if any children or adults still remain in the hospital recovering. Events are ongoing to support those impacted. On July 6, Chatham Strong Fest is hosting six bands at Chatham Community Park to raise money. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
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.'
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
8-Year-Old Dies Following After-School Camp Crash That Took Place Over a Month Ago, Becoming 5th Victim to Die
The Sangamon County coroner confirmed that Bradley Lund, 8, was pronounced dead on June 2 The April 28 crash previously claimed the lives of four people Officials previously identified the other the other victims who died as Kathryn Corley, 7; Alma Buhnerkempe, 7; Ainsley Johnson, 8; and 18-year-old Rylee BrittonAuthorities confirmed that a fifth child has died over a month after a vehicle crashed into an Illinois after-school camp. In a Tuesday, June 3, statement, Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon confirmed that Bradley Lund, 8, of Springfield, was pronounced dead on the morning of Monday, June 2. At the time, Bradley was an inpatient at HSHS St. John's Hospital 'where he was admitted after sustaining multiple blunt force injuries in a motor vehicle vs pedestrian incident at a daycare center in Chatham, on April 28, 2025.' The coroner's office said that Bradley's death continues to be under investigation by the Sangamon County Coroner and the Illinois State Police. The deadly crash took place on April 28 just after 3 p.m. at the YNOT (Youth Needing Other Things) Outdoors Summer Camp. According to authorities, the victims were between 4 to 18 years old. The ISP previously identified the driver as Marianne Akers, 44, of Chatham. Authorities said Akers' car left the road for reasons unknown and traveled through a field and into the east side of the YNOT After School Camp, traveling through the building and hitting many people before exiting the other side. The Sangamon County Coroner's Office previously identified the victims who died in the wreck as Kathryn Corley, 7; Alma Buhnerkempe, 7; Ainsley Johnson, 8; and 18-year-old Rylee Britton. All four were pronounced dead at the scene. "Postmortem procedures done today indicate that they all died from multiple blunt force injuries sustained in the incident," the coroner's office said. In addition to the fatalities, six other children were taken to area hospitals, state police said in a previous statement. The department noted that the crash did not "appear to be a targeted attack.' Akers, the sole driver and occupant of the car, was uninjured and taken to a local hospital for evaluation. Akers' lawyer previously said that she had a seizure and had no memory of the incident. Speaking with Fox affiliate WRSP, Scott Hanken said that Akers has seen a neurologist and granted the ISP permission to view her medical records. 'We have met numerous times with law enforcement,' Hanken said. 'She has provided them with everything they've needed. She immediately provided them with her phone. The Illinois State Police did a forensic download of her phone, and we've clarified any issues that they may have had with that.' Hanken did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. WRSP reported that five of the injured children were released from the hospital and no criminal charges have been filed against Akers so far. Read the original article on People
Associated Press
7 days ago
- General
- Associated Press
Child hurt in car crash at Illinois after-school camp dies, raising death toll to 5
CHATHAM, Ill. (AP) — An 8-year-old injured when a car barreled through a building used for a popular after-school camp in Illinois this spring has died. Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon posted a news release on his office's Facebook page Tuesday announcing Bradley Lund of Springfield was pronounced dead at 5:52 a.m. Monday. The death toll from the April 28 crash in Chatham now stands at five people, including 8-year-old Ainsley Johnson; 7-year-olds Kathryn Corely and Alma Buhnerkempe, all of Chatham; and 18-year-old Rylee Britton of Springfield. According to state police, a car left a road, crossed a field and smashed into a building that the group Youth Needing Other Things Outdoors was using for the camp. The vehicle traveled through the building and exited the other side. The 44-year-old driver was not hurt. Authorities have said she may have suffered a health emergency but it remains unclear whether she's been arrested, has been taken into custody or has been charged. Asked for an update, Trooper Shafer McKune of the Illinois State Police's public information office emailed a copy of the coroner's news release to The Associated Press along with a one-sentence statement saying that Sangamon County prosecutors will provide an update when they finish a 'thorough review of the investigation.' He did not say when that review would be completed. Chatham is a community of about 15,000 people outside Springfield, the state capital.
