4 children killed when car slams into after-school program in Chatham, Illinois, near Springfield
Four children died Monday and others were injured when a vehicle plowed into a building housing an after-school program in the central Illinois town of Chatham, state police said.
Illinois State Police said officers were called to the YNOT Outdoors Summer and After School Camp, on Breckenridge Road in Chatham, after a vehicle crashed into the east side of the building at about 3:20 p.m.
The car hit multiple people outside the building before plowing right through it, striking many people inside, state police said. The vehicle exited through the wall of the opposite side of the building.
In an update Tuesday morning, state police said it does not appear to be a targeted attack. The cause remains under investigation.
Those killed were two 7-year-olds, an 8-year-old and an 18-year-old, all of them girls, police said.
Six people were injured. Most were taken to local hospitals by ambulance and one by a life flight helicopter, state police said. One remained in critical condition Tuesday morning.
The after-school center is a place where elementary and high school students hang out after school — often waiting for their parents to pick them up. On Monday, parents rushed to the area after news of the deadly incident spread in the small town.
Law enforcement from across central Illinois also rushed to the scene to secure the area and help victims and parents desperately looking for the whereabouts of their children.
After getting everyone out safely, investigators also tracked down the driver — who was uninjured, but was still taken to an area hospital for evaluation.
The agony was undeniable from people on scene as they realized children were inside the afterschool camp building when the car came crashing through.
"Oh no!" one woman said as she took video after a man told her what had happened. "Oh, poor babies!"
Illinois State Police have not released the age of the driver. It was also unclear late Monday the crash was intentional or if there was a medical cause or another cause altogether.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said he was "horrified and deeply saddened" by the deadly incident. "Our community lost a group of bright and innocent young people with their whole lives ahead of them," Pritzker wrote in a post on X. "My heart is heavy for these families and the unimaginable grief they are experiencing — something that no parent should ever have to endure."
Pritzker said his administration was closely monitoring the situation, and wrote, "Let's wrap our arms around the community tonight as we receive updates on the situation." Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton added, "My heart aches for the entire Chatham community tonight as we've learned more details of the tragic crash where children lost their lives."
Illinois state Sen. Doris Turner (D-Springfield), who represents the area, issued a statement:
"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. For some families, that belief was shaken today following the tragedy at Y.N.O.T. 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. My office and I are ready to assist in any way we can. I've been in contact with local authorities and will pass along relevant information as it becomes available."
Chatham Village Trustee Kristen Chiaro posted on Facebook that the Chatham Baptist Church would be the reunification point for families with children at the center. Near the scene, traffic was shut down on Walnut Street between Park Street and Gordon Drive.
Chatham is about 12 miles south of Springfield in Sangamon County. It is not to be confused with the South Side Chicago neighborhood of Chatham.
The investigation into the incident continues, officials said.
