Driver in fatal Illinois crash may have suffered medical emergency, authorities say
SPRINGFIELD, IL — The driver of a vehicle that plowed into a building hosting an after-school program in Illinois, killing three children and a teenager, was not under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances and may have suffered a medical emergency, state police said.
Preliminary toxicology test results for Marianne Akers, 44, came back negative and no charges have been filed in the case, Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly said at a news conference May 1. Akers, of Chatham, is not in custody, Kelly added.
Kelly emphasized that the investigation remains ongoing, and evidence that Akers may have had a medical emergency was inconclusive.
"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."
At about 3:20 p.m. local time on April 28, the vehicle left the road and traveled through a field before smashing into the east side of the YNOT After School Camp in Chatham, a village just south of Springfield. The vehicle barreled through the building and struck multiple people before exiting on the other side.
The four victims killed in the crash were identified as Rylee Britton, 18; Ainsley Johnson, 8; Alma Buhnerkempe, 7; and Kathryn Corley, 7, according to Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon. All four were pronounced dead at the scene as a result of blunt force injuries sustained in the crash, Allmon said.
Six other children were injured and transported to area hospitals, Illinois State Police said. Two of those hospitalized have since been released.
Akers, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, was uninjured in the incident, according to state police. She was transported to an area hospital for evaluation and released.
Illinois State Police: No evidence incident was a targeted attack
During the May 1 news conference, Kelly reiterated that the crash was not a deliberate 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 added that "black box" information from Akers' vehicle could help state police 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."
Security camera footage showed the vehicle traveling westbound on Walnut Street, which is adjacent to YNOT After School Camp, before leaving the road, according to YNOT Outdoors founder Jamie Loftus. The vehicle then went through a farm field and headed towards the building at a high rate of speed.
The vehicle then crossed a road and sidewalk, and continued into the parking lot and into the east wall of the building, Loftus added. It then exited the building on the west side. According to Kelly, the vehicle had traveled more than 1,300 feet.
Kelly said he didn't know how many people were at the facility at the time of the incident.
'Our hearts are broken': Community members honor crash victims
In the days following the fatal crash, community members gathered at two separate vigils to honor the victims. All four victims killed in the incident were students at the Ball-Chatham School District, and Britton had worked at YNOT.
Despite weather concerns on April 30, half of Glenwood High School's football field bleachers were packed with community members. At the vigil, community members streamed in, placing flowers and items beside four crosses near the center of the football field. They also wrote messages on the crosses.
Britton's father, Zachary Britton, said he appreciated the support from the community. Britton's mother, Christine Britton, also thanked the community for turning out to support her daughter and the other girls who lost their lives.
"I’ve got to tell you, when we drove up, when I saw all of you, it made me cry and it made me smile. Our hearts are broken, but this helps a little bit," Zachary Britton told the crowd.
A large crowd also gathered at Village Square Park for a candlelight vigil on April 29. Red ribbons and white flowers were tied around the support structures of the park's shelter area.
Teammates of Alma came out to the park in their purple Sangamo United soccer jerseys. Keelie Strawn, who helps out with the team, said it won its first 9-U tournament over the weekend in Moline and the Quad Cities, scoring 14 goals in the first two games.
"Alma had a few of those goals and assists," said Strawn, who described her as "a spitfire, always smiling and making everyone laugh."
The team plans on making special jerseys honoring Alma's number 11.