Latest news with #YNOT
Yahoo
3 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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.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
4 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.
Yahoo
5 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
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
Chatham community supports those lost YNOT Camp tragedy
CHATHAM, Ill.- On Wednesday, Volunteers and businesses in Chatham, Illinois, came together to show their support for the victims of the YNOT school camp tragedy that claimed four lives. On Tuesday morning—a day after the incident—Impressions Design posted a link for 'We Are Chatham Strong' T-shirts. Within 24 hours, they had 2,700 orders from across the country. 'Coming here and helping is taking my mind off of it, making me feel a little bit better about volunteering and helping,' said Jerzi Hinds, a senior at Glenwood High School. Ashley Hinds is the owner of Impressions Design and said the shirts are helping community members grieve. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now 'We want to be together to help our community get through this and I think that's where it started. It is not just a saying; it is truly how we get through life right now,' Hinds said. Hinds said volunteers of the tight-knit community are leaning on each other while the community mourns the lives lost. 'Everybody is saddened and heartbroken by what happened. Even if they didn't know the children who passed away or that were injured. Together, as a community, we support each other,' Marissa Boyd, a volunteer, said. All of the proceeds from the shirts are going to the families. The link to the shirts can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
4 Girls Killed in Illinois After-School Camp Crash Identified as Parents Pay Tribute to 'Sweet, Silly' Daughters
The four girls killed after a vehicle crashed into their after-school camp in Illinois on the afternoon of Monday, April 28, have been identified by authorities The tragedy occurred at the YNOT (Youth Needing Other Things) Outdoors Summer Camp in Chatham Two 7-year-olds, an 8-year-old and an 18-year-old died in the crash, the Sangamon County Coroner's Office said The four victims killed after a vehicle crashed into their after-school camp in Illinois have been identified by authorities. On Monday, April 28, at approximately 3:20 p.m. local time, a vehicle "left the road for unknown reasons, traveled through a field and into the east side" of the YNOT (Youth Needing Other Things) Outdoors Summer Camp, which is located at 301 Breckenridge Road in Chatham, the Illinois State Police (ISP) confirmed in an X post on Tuesday. "The car traveled through the building striking numerous individuals before exiting the other side," police added. The Sangamon County Coroner's Office has since identified the four young girls who died in the tragedy as Rylee Britton, 18, of Springfield; Ainsley Johnson, 8, of Chatham; Alma Buhnerkempe, 7, of Chatham and Kathryn Corley, 7, of Chatham, per a news release shared on Facebook. "The Sangamon County Coroner, Jim Allmon, has identified the four students killed in the motor vehicle versus pedestrian incident in Chatham yesterday. All four girls were pronounced deceased at the scene," Tuesday's post read. "Postmortem procedures done today indicate that they all died from multiple blunt force injuries sustained in the incident," the coroner's office stated, adding, "The deaths remain under investigation by the Sangamon County Coroner, the Illinois State Police and the Chatham Police Department." In Tuesday's X post, the ISP confirmed that "six additional children were taken to area hospitals and one remains in critical condition" following the crash. "The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle was uninjured and transported to an area hospital for evaluation. Toxicology reports are pending. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, but this does not appear to be a targeted attack," police added. In a separate X post, police identified the driver of the vehicle as Marianne Akers, 44, of Chatham. "Akers is not in custody at this time as the cause of the crash remains under investigation," the ISP said on Tuesday. Victim Alma Buhnerkempe's mother, Billie Buhnerkempe, described her daughter as a "ray of sunshine wherever she went" while speaking to NBC News. "She was sweet, outgoing, silly and funny," Buhnerkempe added to the outlet of the 7-year-old. "She loved her friends and family fiercely. She loved playing soccer, basketball and doing gymnastics." Ainsley Johnson's father, Todd Johnson, said his daughter's nickname was "Squirt," per the outlet. "She was larger than life and will forever leave a void in our broken hearts," Johnson told NBC News. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said in a statement shared on X that he was "horrified and deeply saddened" by the incident in Chatham. "Parents said goodbye to their kids this morning not knowing it would be the last time. My heart is heavy for these families and the unimaginable grief they're experiencing - something that no parent should ever have to endure," his message shared on Monday included. 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. YNOT Outdoors founder Jamie Loftus called the crash an "unforetold tragedy" in a statement released on Tuesday, per NBC News. "I cannot gather the words to express much of anything that will make sense in print," Loftus said, according to the outlet. "However, I do know that our families who suffered loss and injury today are hurting very, very badly. They are friends, and their kids are like our kids." The Illinois State Police and the YNOT Outdoors Summer Camp did not immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information. PEOPLE has also reached out to Billie Buhnerkempe and Todd Johnson. Read the original article on People
