Vigil held for victims in fatal Chatham, Illinois crash | Video
Community members came together on April 29, 2025, to remember the four people who died in a crash on April 28, in Chatham.
The driver of a vehicle that careened into YNOT (Youth Need Other Things) Outdoors in Chatham April 28 killing four students may have suffered a medical emergency, but that was inconclusive, Illinois State Police authorities said May 1.
Marianne Akers, 44, of Chatham, provided blood and urine samples after the crash, Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly told media members on May 1.
The initial, preliminary toxicology test results were negative for both alcohol and controlled substances, Kelly said.
“Some evidence has been developed indicating the possibility of a medical emergency leading up to the crash,” he said. “However, the investigation of this information and other evidence has not yet concluded and will continue until all leads and research have been exhausted.”
Four Ball-Chatham students — Ainsley Johnson, 8; Kathryn Corley, 7, and Alma Buhnerkempe, 7, all of Chatham, and Rylee Britton, 18, of Springfield — were killed. Britton worked at YNOT.
Six other people were injured in the crash. Two of those hospitalized have been released, said ISP spokeswoman Melaney Arnold.
ISP has been in contact with victims’ families and Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser.
No charges have been filed, and Akers is not in custody, Kelly said.
Akers was reached immediately after the crash, Kelly said, though he would not comment specifically on what her condition was or what her affect was like.
Kelly said because Akers’ name was “already out there in open sources,” meaning social media platforms, “so confirming it was not providing any information other than what was made available.”
YNOT, an after-school program, is located at 301 North Breckenridge Road in Chatham. Kelly didn’t know how many people were at the facility that day.
Kelly did not offer specifics about Akers possibly suffering a medical emergency.
“The process is still ongoing. The evidence is still being developed, (but) there’s a lot of work still to do,” he said.
Kelly stood by the idea that the crash was not a targeted attack.
“There’s no evidence that would indicate this was something that was intended as some type of mass violence or terrorist attack,” he said.
Kelly said “black box” information from Akers’ vehicle could help ISP traffic crash reconstruction experts.
“(There) is a lot of information that can be gleaned from that: speed, the way the car was moving, the way different parts of the engine may have been operating at a certain time,” he said. “It is not a magic tool that will solve every crime, but it is circumstantial evidence that along with other things that can be considered.”
(This story has been updated to include new information.)
Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788; sspearie@sj-r.com; X, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie
