Four Children Dead After Vehicle Crashes into Illinois Building, According to Police
CHATHAM, Ill.—Tragically, four children lost their lives and several more were injured when a vehicle crashed into a building during an after-school program on Monday afternoon in a town near Springfield, Illinois, according to police reports.
Officers arrived around 3:20 p.m. after receiving reports of a car fatally striking three individuals outside, barreling through the building, and then colliding with another person before exiting the structure, Chatham Police Department Deputy Chief Scott Tarter stated.
The victims were between the ages of 4 and 18, as noted by the Illinois State Police in an email announcement.
In addition to the fatalities, several individuals sustained injuries and were transported to local hospitals, police confirmed.
The driver, who was unharmed and the sole occupant of the vehicle, was taken to a hospital for evaluation. It remains unclear whether the driver has been arrested or taken into custody, according to the Illinois State Police.
The building serves YNOT Outdoors, which provides after-school programs and summer camps, according to their website.
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“I am horrified and deeply saddened by the tragic loss of children and the numerous injuries sustained in Chatham this afternoon,” Illinois Governor JB Pritzker expressed in a statement. “My heart is heavy for the families affected and the unimaginable grief they are enduring—something no parent should ever have to face.”
He added that his office is closely monitoring the situation and is ready to provide support.
Chatham is a small community with a population of approximately 15,000, located just outside Springfield, Illinois.
The cause of the crash remains unclear, and it is unknown whether it was intentional.
This tragic incident occurred just two days after a similar event in Vancouver, British Columbia, which resulted in 11 fatalities when a car plowed through a busy street during a Filipino heritage festival—illustrating a troubling trend of vehicles being used to target crowds around the world.
