The church just across the street stepped up to minister to families when an SUV drove through the site of an afterschool program Monday afternoon (April 28), first through a fence, then through the building. Four children were killed, and six others were injured in the village of Chatham, Illinois, at the YNOT (Youth Needing Other Things) Outdoor Kids Camp. Chatham Baptist Church served as the reunification site for families.
Pastor Ahron Cooney said, “It was amazing to see how the Chatham Baptist church family and community rallied together to show love and compassion in such a terrible situation.”
Three of the children were standing outside the building and one was inside when the incident occurred at 3:20 p.m. Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon identified the four victims late Tuesday morning. According to his report, they all died from “multiple blunt force injuries sustained in the accident.” Their names are:
- Ainsley Johnson, age 8, of Chatham
- Rylee Britton, age 18, of Springfield
- Kathryn Corley, age 7, of Chatham
- Alma Buhnerkempe, age 7, of Chatham
One of the six others injured in the crash is in critical condition. One was evacuated by life flight helicopter.
Ministering to anxious parents
Church staff were on hand to minister to anxious parents as they arrived to pick up their children. The children were in the gym while parents were taken to the church sanctuary. Once the children had seen a nurse and identification was made, they were taken to their parents.
Cooney said the church will be talking with the directors of YNOT Outdoors “about how they can use the church going forward while they rebuild.” YNOT Outdoors operates afterschool daycare programs and hosts summer camps. It was started in 2002 by Jamie and Mitzi Loftus of Springfield and is a non-profit organization.
Different tone
The church is hosting a National Day of Prayer Breakfast at 7 a.m. on Thursday (May 1). Cooney said locally it’s known as the “Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast.” After Monday’s incident he expects it will take on a much different tone than planned.
The driver of the SUV, 44-year-old Chatham resident Marianne Akers, was not injured but was taken to the hospital for further evaluation. Results from toxicology tests are pending. The Illinois State Police reported the woman is currently not in custody.
A Go Fund Me page for the victims’ families has already raised nearly $80,000.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Lisa Misner and originally published by the Illinois Baptist.
