Officials identify 3 girls, teen killed in after-school camp crash in Chatham, IL

CHATHAM, Ill. (WLS) -- An SUV drove into an after-school camp, killing four students in downstate Illinois, officials said.

The crash happened at the YNOT After School Camp, located at 301 Breckenridge Road in Chatham, around 3:20 p.m. on Monday, Illinois State Police said.

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The four victims were identified by the Sangamon County coroner as Ainsley Johnson, 8, of Chatham; Kathryn Corley, 7, of Chatham; Alma Buhnerkempe, 7, of Chatham and 18-year-old Rylee Britton of Springfield.

Six other children were injured, and one remains in critical condition, police said.

On Tuesday, ISP said the crash did not appear to be targeted.

"The vehicle crashed into the east side of the building, went through the building and exited outside the west side of the building," Chatham Police Deputy Chief Scott Tarter said.

Police said the vehicle left the road for unknown reasons, and traveled through a field before hitting the building.

The Sangamon County coroner said all four victims were students.

One of the victims who died was inside the building at the time of the crash, and the three others were outside, ISP said.

ISP initially said the driver, who was the only person inside the SUV, was taken to a local hospital for evaluation but was not injured. Tuesday morning, police said the driver, a 44-year-old woman, was not in custody.

The driver formerly worked for the Illinois State Police, the agency investigating the crash. She worked at the ISP from June 2006 to August 2018, an ISP spokesman confirmed Tuesday.

The investigation is ongoing.

Further information was not immediately available.

About the victims

Buhnerkempe, 7, is being remembered by her mother and her soccer club.

"Alma was a ray of sunshine everywhere she went. She was sweet, outgoing, silly, and funny. She loved her friends and family fiercely. She loved playing soccer, basketball, and doing gymnastics. She loved to travel, and went to 17 states in her short life. Her brother Will has autism, and she loved and supported him the only way a big sister could," Billie Buhnerkempe said.

"Alma was our Baby. She was the youngest in the club but she was fierce. Alma was the sweetest, silliest and so full of spirit. This past weekend, doing what she loved Alma and her Queen Bee soccer team won their tournament championship. She was so excited," a statement from Sangamo United FC said. "Our club, especially her team and Coach Natalie will greatly miss Alma but she will never be forgotten."

Loved ones of Johnson, 8, shared this photo of her:

Capitol News Illinois contributed to this report.