Four people were killed and six children were injured on April 28, 2025, when a vehicle left a road, crossed a field and crashed through a building housing the YNOT After School Camp in Chatham, Illinois, according to the Illinois State Police.
The vehicle entered the east side of the building at 301 Breckenridge Road at about 3:20 p.m., struck multiple people and continued through the structure before exiting the other side. Authorities said three of the people who died were struck outside the building and one was struck inside.
The Sangamon County coroner identified the four people who died at the scene as Alma Buhnerkempe, 7; Kathryn Corley, 7; Ainsley Johnson, 8; and Rylee Britton, 18. The victims died from multiple blunt-force injuries.
Driver identified as investigation begins
Illinois State Police identified the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle as Marianne Akers, 44, of Chatham. Akers was not injured and was taken to a hospital for evaluation.
In an April 29 update, state police said the reason the vehicle left the road was still unknown and that Akers was not in custody. Investigators also said the crash did not appear to have been a targeted attack.
The investigation involved Illinois State Police traffic-crash reconstruction specialists, criminal investigators and crime-scene personnel, along with the Chatham Police Department, Chatham Fire Department, Springfield Police Department, Sangamon County Sheriff's Office, the county coroner and other emergency responders.
Children hospitalized after the crash
Six additional children were taken to hospitals after the crash, some by ambulance and helicopter. One remained in critical condition the following day. Police from neighboring jurisdictions also responded as authorities secured the area and families sought information about their children.
Images from the scene showed extensive damage to the camp building, including large openings where the vehicle entered and exited. Roads around the site were temporarily restricted while emergency crews and investigators worked.
On May 1, Illinois State Police said initial toxicology testing of Akers was negative for alcohol and controlled substances. Investigators said there was evidence suggesting she might have experienced a medical emergency, but emphasized at the time that the cause of the crash was still under investigation.
A fifth victim later died
The initial death toll of four later increased. On June 2, 2025, 8-year-old Bradley Lund died after spending about five weeks in a hospital with injuries sustained in the crash, the Sangamon County coroner confirmed. His death brought the number of people killed to five.
Bradley was among the six children originally reported injured. NPR Illinois reported that state police had by then completed much of their investigation and submitted their findings to the Sangamon County State's Attorney for review.
No criminal charges filed
In October 2025, Sangamon County State's Attorney John Milhiser announced that the evidence did not support filing criminal charges against Akers. The decision followed the Illinois State Police investigation into the vehicle's path, toxicology evidence and the possibility that the driver experienced a medical episode.
NPR Illinois reported that prosecutors concluded the available evidence did not establish a basis for criminal charges. The absence of criminal charges did not determine responsibility in any separate civil proceeding.
Families later file a civil lawsuit
Nearly a year after the crash, families of the five people who died filed a wrongful-death lawsuit in April 2026. The civil complaint named Akers, YNOT Outdoors and the company associated with the property and made allegations concerning the location, design and protection of the camp building.
Those allegations are civil claims and should not be treated as established findings. WCBU reported that the lawsuit alleged the property lacked adequate measures to prevent a vehicle from reaching areas regularly occupied by children.
Community response
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said after the crash that state officials were monitoring the situation and urged people to support the Chatham community. State Senator Doris Turner also expressed condolences and said her office was prepared to assist local authorities.
The Chatham community organized vigils, memorials and fundraising efforts for the victims and their families. Local authorities shared links to fundraisers intended to help cover medical expenses for injured children.
YNOT, short for Youth Needing Other Things Outdoors, operated youth programs that included outdoor activities, field trips, hiking and fishing. Chatham is a community south of Springfield in Sangamon County.
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