October 2, 2026
CHATHAM, Ill. — When an SUV drove through the site of an afterschool program Monday afternoon in Chatham, killing three children and a teen, the church across the street stepped up to minister to families. The vehicle plowed through a fence, then through the building, at the Youth Needing Other Things Outdoor Kids Camp.
Chatham Baptist Church served as the reunification site for families.
Pastor Ahron Cooney said, “It was amazing to see how the Chatham Baptist church family and community rallied together to show love and compassion in such a terrible situation.”
Three of the children were standing outside the building, and one was inside when the incident occurred at 3:20 p.m. The victims, all girls, included two 7-year-olds, an 8-year-old, and an 18-year-old. One of the six others injured in the crash is in critical condition. One other victim was evacuated by a Life Flight helicopter.
Church staff were on hand to minister to anxious parents as they arrived to pick up their children. The children were in the gym while parents were taken to the church sanctuary. Once the children had seen a nurse and identification was made, they were taken to their parents.
Cooney said the church will be talking with the directors of the camp “about how they can use the church going forward while they rebuild.” YNOT Outdoors operates after-school daycare programs and hosts summer camps. It was started in 2002 by Jamie and Mitzi Loftus of Springfield and is a non-profit organization.
The church is hosting a National Day of Prayer Breakfast at 7 a.m. on Thursday. Cooney said locally it’s known as the “Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast.” After Monday’s incident he expects it take on a much different tone than planned.
The driver of the SUV, 44-year-old Chatham resident Marianne Akers, was not injured but was taken to the hospital for further evaluation. Results from toxicology tests are pending. The Illinois State Police reported the woman is currently not in custody.
A GoFundMe page for the victims’ families has already raised nearly $80,000.
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This story appeared in the Illinois Baptist Newsjournal.
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