CHATHAM, Ill. (WAND) — It was a nice April afternoon as kids went about their after school activities Monday at the YNOT After School Camp building in Chatham, when suddenly a Jeep crashed into the front of the building and out the back, leaving four children dead and others injured.
Damage to the rear of the YNOT building in Chatham, Illinois April 29, 2025
Taylor Godwin and his wife were at home, two doors down from YNOT, when they heard several loud bangs. When they looked outside they could see a Jeep crashed into a utility pole. They went outside and saw a large hole in the rear of the building and injured children.
“The whole back of the building was blown out,” Godwin told WAND News. “I’m not the type of person that enjoys feeling helpless, but I certainly felt helpless in that moment. There’s nothing I could do.”
The building is now boarded up until repairs can be made.
On Tuesday morning, the coroner released the names of the victims. All died from multiple blunt force injuries.
Ainsley Johnson, age 8, of Chatham
Rylee Britton, age 18, of Springfield
Kathryn Corley, age 7, of Chatham
Alma Buhnerkempe, age 7, of Chatham
ISP identified the driver of the vehicle involved in the crash as 44-year-old woman from Chatham. She is not in custody at this time as the cause of the crash remains under investigation. She was not injured in the crash.
The Chatham community is rallying around the families affected by the crash. Vigils, meal trains, blood donations, and monetary donations have been set up. Click here to learn more.
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