Latest news with #YouthNeedingOtherThings
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
Woman Who Crashed Into After-School Camp, Killing 4, May Have Had a Medical Emergency: Police
The driver of an SUV that crashed into an after-school camp building in downstate Illinois, killing four and injuring six others, did not have any alcohol or drugs in her system and may have experienced a medical emergency prior to the crash, according to a preliminary investigation. No charges have been filed against the driver, Marianne Akers, 44, of Chatham, Illinois, and she is not in custody, Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly said during a news conference on Thursday, May 1. The investigation is ongoing. "All evidence will be submitted to the Sangamon County State's Attorney for a determination of what charges, if any, are appropriate under the law," Kelly said. Related: Girls Killed in Illinois After-School Camp Crash Remembered by Parents as 'Sweet, Silly' Daughters The crash occurred around 3:20 p.m. on Monday, April 28, when the Jeep Wrangler Akers was driving "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 in Chatham, police said. The vehicle traveled through the building striking numerous individuals before crashing through the other side, police added. Killed in the crash were Rylee Britton, 18, of Springfield; Ainsley Johnson, 8, of Chatham; Alma Buhnerkempe, 7, of Chatham and Kathryn Corley, 7, of Chatham. "It's just horrible, I don't know how else to describe it," Kelly said on May 1. 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. Akers was taken to the hospital, where she provided blood and urine samples, and then was released, Kelly said. Initial toxicology results show she tested negative for alcohol or controlled substances, including benzodiazepines, amphetamines, cocaine, opiates, cannabinoids and phencyclidine (PCP). "Some evidence has been developed indicating the possibility of a medical emergency leading up to the crash, however, this investigation of this information and other evidence has not yet concluded and will continue," he said. Kelly reiterated that there was, "no evidence that this was intended as some type of mass violence or terrorist attack." Related: Teen, 18, Dancing on SUV Falls and Dies After Being Struck by Fire Truck: 'It's Tragic that She's Not Here' Kelly would not comment on the condition of the other victims, or if they had been released from the hospital, saying it was at the request of the families. However, the Chatham dance studio that Ainsley attended, Studio M Dance Centre, gave updates on some of those injured. One of the girls, identified only as Emma, has "some bumps, bruises and stitches" but has been released from the hospital and is "staying positive," the dance center wrote in a Facebook post. Another student named Mia remained at the hospital, but was on the road to recovery. "She sustained two fractures in her pelvis, and a small skull fracture and laceration that required stitches," their post read. "Although she's not weight-bearing just yet, she's looking forward to the day she can wheel out of the hospital with her signature spirit and strength." Read the original article on People
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
Four children hospitalized while Illinois town mourns four who died in crash
As a central Illinois community mourns the deaths of three children and a teen counselor killed Monday when a vehicle crashed into the building that housed their after-school program, it has rallied around survivors. Ainsley Johnson, 8; Kathryn Corley, 7; Alma Buhnerkempe, 7, all of Chatham, and counselor Rylee Britton, 18, of Springfield, died from blunt force trauma in the accident. 'As we mourn this unimaginable loss, we recognize the pain and grief that many are experiencing,' Becca Lamon, superintendent for the Ball Chatham School District wrote on the district's webpage. 'We are all hurting. We understand that yesterday's tragedy was difficult to comprehend and process. In times like these it is important that we lean on one another for strength and support.' Police said a black Jeep driven by Marianne Akers, of Chatham, left the road for unknown reason and traveled through a field, crossed a street and a parking lot then hit the east side of a building that housed YNOT Outdoors, which stands for Youth Needing Other Things, an after-school camp in Chatham. The car drove through the building, striking several children and workers, before it exited the other side, went across a basketball court and hit a pole near the town's water tower. Children were in a gym area when the Jeep went through the building. Illinois State Police continue to investigate the cause of the crash but said it was not a targeted attack. ISP confirmed Wednesday that there is surveillance video of the crash. Akers was not injured but was taken to a local hospital for evaluation on Monday afternoon. No charges have been filed as of Wednesday. Six children were hospitalized after the crash. Two have been released, according to Illinois State Police, while four remain hospitalized. A GoFundMe account was established for 7-year-old Ella Orsi, who was injured in the crash, to help with medical costs. Ella sustained facial fractures, a broken jaw, damaged teeth, brain swelling and brain bleeding and is in the pediatric intensive care unit, according to Casey Sitko, who posted on the fundraising site. 'At this time, plastic surgery/surgeries will be required, but it appears as though any brain surgery will be avoided. She is intubated and medicated so she can rest and recover,' Sitko wrote. Ella has been responsive and communicating by squeezing her parents' hands, according to the latest update by Sitko. The Glenwood High School Student Council raised more than $150,000 to help with funeral costs, according to the fundraising site. Chatham has a population of around 15,000 people and is 12 miles from the Capitol in Springfield. Due to the village's proximity to Springfield, a large number of state employees live in Chatham, located south on Interstate 55. Akers, of Chatham, is herself a state employee. She is an office associate in the Illinois Department of Transportation's Bureau of Business Services. She formerly served as an office associate at the Illinois State Police but resigned in 2018 after a 12-year tenure. Under Illinois law, a driver has a duty to report a medical condition that could cause loss of consciousness or any other loss of ability to safely operate a motor vehicle within 10 days of the driver becoming aware of the condition. The Illinois Secretary of State stated it could not comment on whether Akers has previously filed a medical report as that is confidential information. Chatham Schools canceled school through Friday. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the village rallied to show support for the families that were affected. The mayor of Chatham ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff. Residents made T-shirts displaying the slogan 'We Are Chatham Strong' and gave the proceeds to the families. Red, the school color, was seen throughout the village. Ribbons adorned trees and light poles. Red signs were planted in front lawns. Locals wore red shirts throughout the day and at the vigils. Chatham Police Department posted a video of a candlelight vigil held for the victims on Tuesday, and another vigil was scheduled for Wednesday night. Community members shared several Facebook posts urging residents to donate blood. By Tuesday morning, all of the time slots were booked until Friday. Counselors provided free therapy and counseling for children and parents. A local nursery provided free childcare for parents needing 'time for self-care.' Families organized to make or provide meals for families of children who attended the after-school program. Some local bars and restaurants donated a portion of their sales to families impacted by the crash. Others offered free meals to first responders, impacted families, and locals who donated blood. During lunchtime on Wednesday, a real estate firm rented a local trampoline park for four hours, allowing children from the Chatham School District to play during that time for free. A Chatham ice cream shop hosted an event for children with a school counselor and therapy dog. The children were encouraged to write messages on the sidewalk outside in chalk to those who were killed and injured. On Tuesday, a neighboring intermediate school observed a moment of silence for Chatham School District's loss, as their students wore red to show their support. Glenwood athletes planned to meet at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Community Park to play games with younger children from the village. A Linktree page was made for locals to house all additional links for other information, fundraisers, events, and community resources for Chatham residents.
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
Global News
29-04-2025
- Global News
Car crashes through after-school camp, killing 3 children, 1 adult in Illinois
Illinois authorities said on Tuesday that they don't believe a car crash into an after-school building that killed a teenager and three children was targeted. Police say a vehicle was driven across a field before crashing into a building in the small city of Chatham, Ill., close to Springfield, on Monday afternoon. In an update, police said two seven-year-olds, an eight-year-old and an 18-year-old were killed. Six more children were taken to hospital, and one remains in critical condition, according to The Associated Press. The driver was uninjured but was transported to hospital for evaluation. Police said the results of a toxicology report are pending, but have not confirmed if the suspect has been arrested or taken into custody. The cause of the incident is under investigation, but police said the crash doesn't appear to have been deliberate. Story continues below advertisement According to its website, the building that was hit is the base for a local organization called Youth Needing Other Things that hosts after-school activities and summer camps. In a statement on Monday, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said, 'I am horrified and deeply saddened by the deaths of children and numerous injuries in Chatham this afternoon. My heart is heavy for these families and the unimaginable grief they're experiencing — something that no parent should ever have to endure,' adding that his office was paying close attention the situation and is ready to offer its support. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy On Monday night, Chatham police wrote on its Facebook page asking people to send their prayers. 'A terrible tragedy has occurred here that has affected all of us,' the post reads. Meanwhile, some community members have changed their Facebook profile photos to an image of a red ribbon and the words 'Chatham Strong.' The crash followed a deadly vehicle incident in Vancouver, B.C., where the driver of a black Audi SUV plowed through crowds at a local Filipino heritage festival, killing 11 people between the ages of five and 65 and injuring 32 others. Story continues below advertisement Seven were listed in critical condition and three others in serious condition at hospitals on Monday, said Vancouver police spokesperson Steve Addison. Authorities executed a search warrant at a home in East Vancouver on Monday evening. Kai-Ji Adam Lo was arrested by police and is charged with eight counts of second-degree murder and is expected to face additional charges. He remains in custody. — With files from The Associated Press
The Independent
29-04-2025
- The Independent
Four dead including four year-old after car crashes into Illinois daycare center
At least four people have been killed and six others injured after a car crashed through the wall of a daycare center in Chatham, Illinois, on Monday. Those killed were all female students between the ages of 4 and 18, according to Chatham Police Deputy Chief Scott Tarter, who added that the victims will not be named until their families have been notified. Deputy Chief Tarter told local broadcaster WCIA that the car had driven through the east side of the Youth Needing Other Things (YNOT) Outdoors camp, an after-school program, hitting several people, before injuring more inside and then crashing out of the other side of the building on 301 Breckenridge Road. One of the people who died was inside the building while the other three were outside, Illinois State Police said. Police were called to the scene at around 3.20pm local time, Tarter said. The driver, the sole occupant of the vehicle, was not injured but was taken for evaluation to a local hospital for evaluation. All the injured were also transported to nearby hospitals. 'My heart is with the families, loved ones and all affected by the horrific tragedy that struck Chatham today,' said village trustee Kristen Chiaro in a post on Facebook on Monday evening. 'Thank you first responders for doing what you can. There is no tougher circumstance. And as details unfold, we must take care of one another as our community grieves.' She said counseling will be available at Glenwood Middle School for affected students, staff and family members, beginning Tuesday morning, while Glenwood High School would host a supply donation station from 10am. Further information has yet to be released as of Tuesday morning, including any details about why the car crashed into the building or who was behind the wheel. Chatham is a village with a population of approximately 14,000 inhabitants that lies just three miles southwest of Springfield in southern Illinois, about an hour and a half's drive from St Louis. 'My administration is closely monitoring the crash in Chatham,' said Illinois Governor JB Pritzker in a post on X. 'As we continue to learn more, please follow the guidance of all local authorities. Let's wrap our arms around the community tonight as we receive updates on the situation.' In a subsequent statement posted to social media, Pritzker elaborated: 'I am horrified and deeply saddened by the deaths of children and numerous injuries in Chatham this afternoon. 'My heart is heavy for these families and the unimaginable grief they're experiencing – something that no parent should ever have to endure.' Illinois state senator Doris Turner said she was 'heartbroken' by the incident and that her office was ready to help local authorities with their investigation.
