SPRINGFIELD, IL — Four people, including children, were killed and several others were injured after a vehicle crashed into the building of an after-school camp in Illinois on April 28, authorities said.
At about 3:20 p.m. local time, officers responded to YNOT After School Camp after a vehicle drove into the east side of the building, Illinois State Police said in a news release. The after-school camp is located in Chatham, which is south of Springfield.
The vehicle struck multiple people inside the building before it exited through the western side of the structure, according to state police. The four victims killed in the incident are believed to be between the ages of 4 and 18.
Three of the victims killed were struck outside the building, while another person was hit inside, state police said. Several others were transported to local hospitals by ambulance, and another person was transported by a helicopter.
The driver of the vehicle, who was the sole occupant, was uninjured and taken to a local hospital for evaluation, according to state police.
Chatham Police Deputy Chief Scott Tarter said Chatham Baptist Church, which is near the after-school camp, is the reunification point for families. Traffic on nearby streets is closed until further notice, Tarter said.
The Illinois State Police said it is working with the Chatham Police Department to investigate the fatal crash.
State and local officials react to fatal Illinois crash
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said his office is “closely monitoring the situation and is ready to support in any way that we can.”
“I am horrified and deeply saddened by the deaths of children and numerous injuries in Chatham this afternoon,” the governor said in a statement. “Our community lost a group of bright and innocent young people with their whole lives ahead of them.”
“Parents said goodbye to their kids this morning not knowing it would be the last time,” Pritzker added. “My heart is heavy for these families and the unimaginable grief they’re experiencing – something that no parent should ever have to endure.”
State Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, whose district includes Chatham, said she was “heartbroken” about the incident.
“There truly are no words to explain what the Chatham community is feeling and will feel for days, weeks, and months to come,” Turner said. “My office and I are ready to assist in any way we can.”
The Chatham Police Department called the incident a “terrible tragedy … that has affected all of us.”
“If you believe in the power of prayer, please take a moment to pray right now for the entire Chatham community,” police said in a statement on Facebook.
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What is YNOT Outdoors?
YNOT (Youth Needing Other Things) Outdoors, formed in 2002, was founded by a couple from Springfield, according to the organization’s website.
The organization has facilities in Chatham for summer camp drop-off and for after-school programs. YNOT After School provides three-hour, “post-dismissal, latch-key care for school-agers” for several school districts, including Ball-Chatham, the organization’s website states.
(This story was updated to add new information.)
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Illinois camp crash: 4 dead after car smashed into after-school center
The post 4 dead, including minors, after vehicle crashed into Illinois building, authorities say appeared first on USA TODAY.
