Four students between the ages of 7 and 18 were killed after a vehicle drove into an after-school camp in Chatham, Illinois, on April 28, authorities said. Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon said in a statement that four female students were pronounced dead at the scene. Their identities were not publicly released pending next of kin notifications, Allmon said. Autopsies were scheduled to take place on April 29, Allmon said. Police responded to a call at 3:20 p.m. from the YNOT After School Camp in Chatham after a vehicle "left the road for unknown reasons," driving through a field and then into the east side of the building, the Illinois State Police said in a press release on April 29. The vehicle continued to go through the building, striking multiple people, before exiting through the west wall of the structure, police said. Police said in the press release that two 7-year-olds, one 8-year-old and one 18-year-old were killed. Police had previously said they believed the children were between the ages of 4 and 18. Six additional children were transported to local hospitals, and one of the injured children was in critical condition, police said in the press release. The driver, who was alone in the car, was uninjured and was also transported to an area hospital for evaluation, and toxicology results are pending, police said. "The cause of the crash remains under investigation, but this does not appear to be a targeted attack," police said. The Illinois State Police is working with the Chatham Police Department in investigating the fatal crash, and no additional information was given at this time. In a statement posted on its Facebook page, the Chatham Police Department asked for prayers for its community. “If you believe in the power of prayer, please take a moment to pray right now for the entire Chatham community. A terrible tragedy has occurred here that has affected all of us,” the statement reads. Additionally, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker also spoke out regarding the incident on X on April 28. “My administration is closely monitoring the crash in Chatham. As we continue to learn more, please follow the guidance of all local authorities,” he wrote, adding, “Let’s wrap our arms around the community tonight as we receive updates on the situation.” State Sen. Doris Turner, whose district is near Chatham, also wrote that she was “heartbroken” over the news. "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," Turner wrote on Facebook on April 28, adding that there are no words to explain what the community is feeling and will feel for days, weeks and months to come.
