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Daily Mail
04-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Car-crash driver had seizure before plowing into camp and killing four young people, lawyer says
An Illinois woman whose car killed four young people after it plowed into an after-school camp had suffered a seizure, her lawyer says. The crash on Monday killed three children and a teenager when the black Jeep veered off the road near Springfield, Illinois. Marianne Akers, 44, was driving home from work at about 3pm when she suffered a seizure that left her 'utterly incapacitated,' attorney W Scott Hanken said. Hanken, a criminal justice attorney in Springfield, revealed to local ABC affiliate, WICS News, that Akers suffered a seizure before her vehicle sped off the road and veered through the YNOT Outdoors Summer and After School Camp in Chatham, a village outside of Springfield. Hanken explained that the mother of two had left work at 3 pm and was traveling 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. Hanken said that Akers had no history of seizures and wasn't on any medications that would have impaired her driving. '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. Akers' lawyer said she was devastated and fully cooperating with law enforcement. The Illinois State Police hasn't yet confirmed the cause of the crash, and a spokesperson told that the investigation is ongoing. Police said that Akers' car left the road at around 3.20 pm and traveled through a field before crashing into the east side 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. Police said on Thursday that an initial toxicology report revealed that she didn't have alcohol or any controlled substances in her system at the time of the crash. Akers was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle. The four victims were killed on the scene. Police announced that the victims were Kathryn Corley and Alma Buhnerkempe, both seven, Ainsley Grace Johnson, eight, and Rylee Britton, 18. Britton was a high school student who helped run the after-school program. She 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.' Ainsley was a dancer 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 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 came into this world exactly how she lived – in a burst of activity,' Alma's obituary read. '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.' Two separate vigils were held to honor the victims in the days following the crash. The three children who were killed were students at the Ball-Chatham School District. Britton's father, Zachary Britton, told the crowd at her vigil that seeing the support for his daughter made him smile. 'Our hearts are broken, but this helps a little bit,' USA Today reported. Of the six children hospitalized after the crash, two have been released. Ella Orsi, another seven-year-old at YNOT, is fighting severe injuries. She suffered facial fractures, a broken jaw, damaged teeth, brain swelling and brain bleeding from the crash. Family friend Casey Sitko said that she has been responsive and can squeeze her parents' hands. 'Ella is an absolute joy to be around. She loves to have fun, make jokes, and laugh! Her smile is infectious, and we can't wait to see it again,' she said. A spokesperson for the Illinois State Police Department told that there are no further updates on the case and the investigation remains ongoing. Akers hasn't been charged with any crime. She is a mom of a teenage boy and girl and previously worked in food service at Chatham Elementary School. She now works for the Illinois Department of Transportation's Bureau of Business Services and at the police department. ISP previously clarified that Akers wasn't an officer or investigator with the department.
Daily Mail
03-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Illinois mom-of-two who plowed into after school camp killing three kids and teen breaks her silence
An Illinois mom-of-two whose car plowed into an after-school camp on Monday and killed three kids and a teen is now explaining the tragedy through her lawyer. Marianne Akers, 44, was driving her black Jeep home from work when the car sped off the road and veered through the YNOT Outdoors Summer and After School Camp in Chatham, a village outside of Springfield. The tragedy claimed the lives of four and shocked the community. Now, Akers' lawyer is offering an explanation for the horrific crash. W. Scott Hanken, a criminal justice attorney in Springfield, revealed to local ABC affiliate, WICS News, that Akers suffered a seizure during the crash. Hanken explained that Akers had left work at 3 pm and was traveling 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. Hanken said that Akers had no history of seizures and wasn't on any medications that would've impaired her driving. '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. Akers' lawyer said she was devastated and fully cooperating with law enforcement. The Illinois State Police hasn't yet confirmed the cause of the crash, and a spokesperson told that the investigation is ongoing. Police said that Akers' car left the road at around 3:20 pm and traveled through a field before crashing into the east side 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. Police said on Thursday that an initial toxicology report revealed that she didn't have alcohol or any controlled substances in her system at the time of the crash. Akers was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle. The four victims were killed on the scene. Police announced that the victims were Kathryn Corley and Alma Buhnerkempe, both seven, Ainsley Grace Johnson, eight, and Rylee Britton, 18. Britton was a high school student who helped run the after-school program. She 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.' Ainsley was a dancer 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 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 came into this world exactly how she lived – in a burst of activity,' Alma's obituary read. '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.' Two separate vigils were held to honor the victims in the days following the crash. The three children who were killed were students at the Ball-Chatham School District. Britton's father, Zachary Britton, told the crowd at her vigil that seeing the support for his daughter made him smile. 'Our hearts are broken, but this helps a little bit,' USA Today reported. Of the six children hospitalized after the crash, two have been released. Ella Orsi, another seven-year-old at YNOT, is fighting severe injuries. She suffered facial fractures, a broken jaw, damaged teeth, brain swelling and brain bleeding from the crash. Family friend Casey Sitko said that she has been responsive and can squeeze her parents' hands. 'Ella is an absolute joy to be around. She loves to have fun, make jokes, and laugh! Her smile is infectious, and we can't wait to see it again,' she said. A spokesperson for the Illinois State Police Department told that there are no further updates on the case and the investigation remains ongoing. Akers hasn't been charged with any crime. She is a mom of a teenage boy and girl and previously worked in food service at Chatham Elementary School. She now works for the Illinois Department of Transportation's Bureau of Business Services and at the police department. ISP previously clarified that Akers wasn't an officer or investigator with the department.
