FOUR KILLED after SUV Plows Through Daycare in Illinois

CHATHAM, Ill. — A devastating crash rocked the small town of Chatham, Illinois, on Monday afternoon when an SUV plowed through the YNOT After School Camp, killing four female students and injuring at least six others, authorities said. The incident, which occurred around 3:20 p.m. at 301 Breckenridge Road, has left the community reeling and prompted an ongoing investigation by Illinois State Police and local authorities.

According to the Illinois State Police, the vehicle crashed through the east side of the YNOT Outdoors facility, a nonprofit after-school and summer camp program serving children from the Ball-Chatham and Pleasant Plains school districts. The SUV struck three victims outside the building and one inside before exiting through the west wall, leaving a trail of destruction. The victims, all female students aged 7, 7, 8, and 18, were pronounced dead at the scene, Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon confirmed.

Chatham Police Deputy Chief Scott Tarter reported that six other children were injured, with one airlifted to a hospital in critical condition. The driver, the sole occupant of the vehicle, was uninjured but taken to a local hospital for evaluation. Authorities have stated that the crash does not appear to be a targeted attack, though the cause remains under investigation pending toxicology reports.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker expressed his grief in a statement, calling the incident an “unspeakable tragedy.” “I am horrified and deeply saddened by the deaths of children and numerous injuries in Chatham this afternoon,” Pritzker said. “Our community lost a group of bright and innocent young people with their whole lives ahead of them.”

The YNOT Outdoors program, a 501(c)(3) organization, is known for providing a “safe, fun, active, and stimulating” environment for school-age children. The crash has prompted an outpouring of support, with counseling services made available at Glenwood Middle School starting Tuesday morning and a supply donation station established at Glenwood High School.

Illinois State Police and Chatham Police are working together to investigate the incident, with Walnut Street closed between Park Street and Gordon Drive until further notice. Authorities have promised to release more information as it becomes available.

This tragedy follows a series of recent vehicle-related incidents globally, including a crash in Vancouver, British Columbia, two days prior, where 11 people were killed during a Filipino heritage festival. While no connection has been established, the Illinois crash underscores growing concerns about vehicle safety and public spaces.

The names of the victims have not been released, pending notification of their families. The community of Chatham, a town of about 15,000 located 12 miles south of Springfield, continues to mourn as it seeks answers and healing in the wake of this heartbreaking loss.

Sources: ABC7 Chicago, Chicago Sun-Times, Newsweek, NBC Chicago, CNN via KTVZ, NBC News, The Independent, The Washington Post

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