CHATHAM, Ill. (AP) 鈥 Residents of a small central Illinois city on Tuesday mourned the lives of three young children and a teenager killed in a startling crash in which a car barreled through a building used for a popular after-school camp. Authorities said it didn't appear to be a targeted attack.
The car left a road, crossed a field and smashed into the side of the building in Chatham on Monday afternoon, according to Illinois State Police. It traveled through the building, striking numerous people before exiting the other side. Six children were also hospitalized, including one left in critical condition.
The Sangamon County coroner identified the victims as 18-year-old Rylee Britton of Springfield and three Chatham children: Ainsley Johnson, 8, and Kathryn Corley and Alma Buhnerkempe, both 7.
鈥淭his is just devastating," said Jennifer Walston, 43, as she and her three daughters left flowers and a stuffed animal at the crash site. Plywood covered the hole where the car had crashed into the building used by Youth Needing Other Things Outdoors.
As details about the investigation emerged, people in the community of nearly 15,000 near the Illinois capital city of Springfield found ways to grieve and comfort each other.
Schools switched to online learning and churches held prayer services. City leaders ordered flags to be flown at half-staff. An ice cream shop offered free scoops and a community meeting place. Some locals changed their social media profile pictures to red ribbons with the motto 鈥淐hatham Strong.鈥
The driver, a 44-year-old woman, was not injured but was taken to a hospital for evaluation and police said toxicology reports were pending. She was not in custody on Tuesday. State police declined to offer further details about the driver, saying the crash remains under investigation.
鈥淭his does not appear to be a targeted attack,鈥 state police said in a statement.
Hundreds, including students, packed Cherry Hills Church. Most wore red, the color of the Glenwood High School Titans where students recalled taking classes with Rylee.
Pastor Steve Patzia told the crowd he saw her in church just weeks ago as he offered words of comfort.
鈥淚t鈥檚 good and right to feel how you feel, when you feel how you feel. I鈥檝e had moments of grief and sadness. I鈥檝e cried, and I鈥檝e also had memories," he said. 鈥淚 would encourage you to share those good memories you have of her and the children that were lost as well. And I also want to say it鈥檚 OK to ask questions.鈥
Parents said the YNOT Outdoors after-school and summer camp programs are highly coveted and competitive to get into. In social media posts about the crash, several families recalled fond summer memories at the location which focuses on outdoor activities.
Walston鈥檚 daughters have attended the group鈥檚 summer camp and said they knew Alma and Ainsley, remembering them as energetic girls who loved to dance and made efforts to include others.
鈥淭hey were sweet girls,鈥 Walston said.
The local studio where Ainsley and two others injured in the crash took dance also canceled classes Tuesday. Teachers at Studio M Dance Centre remembered the 8-year-old as a 鈥渟weet and sassy鈥 dancer and tumbler.
鈥淗er spirit will always be a part of our dance family, and she will be deeply missed every single day,鈥 the studio said in a Facebook post.
Jamie Loftus, founder of YNOT Outdoors, said security camera footage showed a vehicle that left the road 鈥渁 substantial distance鈥 away and sped across the field toward the building.
The car then crossed a road, the sidewalk and YNOT鈥檚 parking lot before crashing through the building 鈥渨ith no apparent attempt to alter its direction,鈥 Loftus said. After passing through the building, the vehicle crossed a gravel road and crashed into a power pole and ballfield fence.
鈥淚 cannot gather the words to express much of anything that will make sense in print. However, I do know that our families who suffered loss and injury today, are hurting very, very badly,鈥 Loftus said in a social media post on Monday. 鈥淭hey are friends and their kids are like our kids.鈥
The deadly crash comes days after a car during a Filipino heritage festival in Vancouver, British Columbia, killing 11 people. Similar have taken place worldwide in recent years, some inspired by extremist politics or blamed on mental illness.
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Associated Press reporters Lisa Baumann in Bellingham, Washington; and Sophia Tareen in Chicago contributed
