4 Dead, 6 Injured After Car Crashes Into After-School Program In Illinois

Three children and an 18-year-old were killed and several other children were injured when a car plowed into an after-school program facility in central Illinois on Monday, officials said.

Illinois State Police said officers responded along with the Chatham Police Department to a report of a fatal crash at the YNOT Outdoors Summer and After School Camp on Breckenridge Road in Chatham at around 3:20 p.m. Monday. A vehicle left the road for “unknown reasons,” traveled through a field and crashed into the building, striking multiple people before exiting the other side.

Two 7-year-old girls, an 8-year-old girl, and an 18-year-old girl were killed. Six other children were transported to area hospitals with injuries, one of whom remained in critical condition Monday morning, state police said.

Videos shared by Aarika Jo on Facebook show a gaping hole in the side of the building in the aftermath of the crash. Emergency vehicles and a helicopter can be seen at the scene.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said in a statement that he was “horrified and deeply saddened” by the incident.

“Our community lost a group of bright and innocent young people with their whole lives ahead of them,” he wrote. “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.”

The driver was the sole occupant of the vehicle and was uninjured, but was transported to an area hospital for evaluation. Police said toxicology reports are pending. The crash remains under investigation, but police said it did not appear to be a targeted attack.