Vehicle crashes into classroom at Palos Park church, 3 children among 7 hospitalized, police say

PALOS PARK, Ill. (WLS) -- A vehicle crashed into a south suburban church Friday, a pastor said.

This weekend's daycare graduation at the church is now canceled after a truck plowed into a classroom, leaving seven people in the hospital, including students and police officers.

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At least three children were injured, and two officers were among four others who were also hospitalized after responding to the crash, police said.

The vehicle hit the Church of the Transfiguration, located in the 12000-block of South 86th Avenue in Palos Park, around 4:30 p.m., Pastor Hunter Farrow said.

"It was scary and very uncertain and chaotic," Farrow said. "...having a big celebration for our 75th anniversary."

As the parish, which houses a daycare and pre-school, marked a milestone, those festivities took a violent turn,

Palos Park police said it was believed the driver of the vehicle, a pickup truck, suffered a medical emergency before the crash.

The truck hit the building where a classroom is located, Farrow said.

"It sounded almost like it was an earthquake," Farrow said. "They just kind of said we need to run and got the kids out. All the teachers were amazing."

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The pastor initially said emergency crews took at least six people to a hospital.

Police later confirmed that seven people were hospitalized, including three children who were taken to Christ Hospital, the driver of the truck, a church staff member who also suffered a medical emergency, and two officers who suffered smoke inhalation.

It was not immediately clear what the ages were of people who may have been injured or what led up to the crash.

The conditions of those who were injured were also not known.

The church's weekend plans are now deterred while Farrow prays for healing.

"Tomorrow, they were supposed to have their graduation for daycare. That's, obviously, canceled," Farrow said. "I'm still concerned for even the broken bones and the smoke inhalation... That's bodily trauma that these people are still going to have to heal from."

Farrow said church services for Sunday have also been canceled until it's safe for his parishioners to go back inside.