Four children who were still hospitalized while Chatham died by four who died when crashed

Chatham-Als Central Illinois Community mourns the deaths of three children and a youthful consultant who was killed on Monday when a vehicle fell into the building where her program was after the school, gathered around survivors.

Ainsley Johnson, 8; Kathryn Coryley, 7; Alma Buhnerkempe, 7, all from Chatham, and consultant Rylee Britton, 18, from Springfield, died of a blunt force trauma in the accident.

“As we mourn for this unimaginable loss, we recognize the pain and grief that many experience,” wrote Becca Lamon, superintendent of the Ball Chatham School District of the Chatham ball on the website of the district. “We are all injured. We understand that yesterday's tragedy was difficult to understand and process. In times like these, it is important that we rely on each other to maintain strength and support.”

The police said a black jeep, who was driven by Marianne Akers from Chatham, left the street for unknown reasons and traveled through a field, crossed a street and a parking space, then he hit the east side of a building where ynot was accommodated outdoors.

The car drove through the building and hit several children and workers before leaving the other side, over a basketball court and hit a pole near the city's water tower. Children were in a fitness room when the jeep went through the building.

Illinois State Police continues to investigate the cause of the crash, but said it was not a targeted attack. ISP confirmed on Wednesday that there is a surveillance video of the crash.

Akers was not injured, but was brought to a local hospital for evaluation on Monday afternoon. No fees were submitted from Wednesday.

After the crash, six children were hospitalized. According to the Illinois State Police, two were released, while four will continue to be hospitalized. For 7-year-old Ella Orsi, who was injured in the crash, a Gofundme account was set up to help with the medical costs.

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Ella supported facial fractures, a broken jaw, damaged teeth, brain swelling and brain bleeding and, according to Casey Sitko, which was published on the Fundraising site.

“At this point, plastic surgery/operations will be necessary, but it seems as if every brain operation was avoided. It is intubated and medically so that it can rest and relax,” wrote Sitko.

According to Sitko's latest update, Ella reacted and communicated her parents' hands.

According to the Fundraising location, the student Council of the Glenwood High School collected more than 150,000 US dollars to support the funeral costs.

Chatham has a population of around 15,000 inhabitants and is 12 miles from the Capitol in Springfield. Due to the proximity of the village in Springfield, a large number of national workers in Chatham, which is located south on Interstate 55.

Akers from Chatham is even a national employee. She is an office worker in the Illinois Department of Transportation office. In the past, she worked as an Associate Associate at Illinois State Police, but resigned in 2018 after a 12-year term.

According to Illinois law, a driver has obliged to report a disease that will surely operate a loss of consciousness or another loss of the ability to operate a motor vehicle within 10 days of the illness.

Foreign Minister Illinois said that he could not comment on whether Akers had previously submitted a medical report as this is confidential information.

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The Chatham schools canceled school until Friday.

The village gathered on Tuesday and Wednesday to show the support of the families concerned. The Mayor of Chatham ordered to reduce the flags on half the seasons. The residents made T-shirts that the slogan “We are Chatham Strong” and gave the families the proceeds.

Red, the school color, was seen throughout the village. Bands forged trees and light rods. Red signs were planted in front of lawns. The locals carried red shirts and in the vigils all day.

The Chatham police authority published a video of a vigil for the victims on Tuesday, and another vigil was planned for Wednesday evening.

Community members shared several Facebook posts that asked the residents to donate blood. On Tuesday morning, all time windows were booked by Friday.

Consultants provided children and parents free therapy and advice. A local kindergarten offered the parents who needed “time for self -care”, free childcare. Families that are organized to prepare or provide meals for families of children who participated in the post -school program.

Some local bars and restaurants donated part of their sales to families who were affected by the crash. Others offered first aiders, affected families and locals who donated blood free meals.

During the lunchtime on Wednesday, a real estate company rented a local trampoline park for four hours, so that children from the Chatham School District can play free of charge during this time.

In a Chatham Ice Cream Shop, an event organized children with a school consultant and therapy dog. The children were encouraged to write messages on the sidewalk in chalk to those who were killed and injured.

On Tuesday, a neighboring intermediate school observed a moment of silence for the loss of the Chatham school district when her students were in red to show their support.

Glenwood athletes planned to meet in the Community Park on Thursday to play games with younger children from the village.

A Linktree page was created for the locals to accommodate all additional links for other information, donation campaigns, events and community resources for Chatham residents.

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