On Monday afternoon, four children were killed and several others injured when a car crashed into a building during an after-school program in Chatham, a town near Springfield, Illinois. According to the police, the vehicle hit three people outside, went through the building, and then hit another person before leaving the other side.
The department of Illinois state police reported that the ages of the deceased ranged from four to eighteen.
Various other individuals were injured and transported to hospitals for treatment.
The unharmed driver, who was alone in the vehicle, was taken to the hospital for evaluation, as stated by Deputy Chief Scott Tarter of the Chatham Police Department.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is aware of the situation and will keep monitoring it. He posted on social media, “Let’s support the community tonight as we receive updates on this situation.”
The building and its facilities belong to YNOT Outdoors, an organization that offers after-school programs and summer camps, as per their website.
Chatham is a small town of about 15,000 people located close to Springfield, Illinois.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/28/children-illinois-car-crash
