Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser said the fatal crash at YNOT Outdoors in Chatham in April was most likely due to a medical episode suffered by the driver, and evidence does not support criminal charges.
Milhiser released the results of the Illinois State Police investigation on Thursday. He said 44-year-old Marianne Akers of Chatham left work at her normal time and drove her normal route until her Jeep left the roadway, traveled through a farm field and crashed through the building at about 45 miles per hour, striking approximately 10 children.
A witness said the driver was slumped forward as the Jeep traveled through the field, and the first people who reached Akers after the crash described her as disoriented with no memory of the accident.
Toxicology tests were negative for drugs and alcohol. The Illinois State Police medical director said tests showed “objective evidence of seizures,” but no evidence to establish the cause of the seizures.
Milhiser said there is no evidence to support an intentional act and no evidence to prove that Akers was negligent in driving with any known medical condition. The prosecutor said Akers’ driving privileges were canceled after the incident and remain canceled.
The five youths who died as a result of the crash were 7-year-old Alma Buehnerkempe, 7-year-old Kathryn Corley, 8-year-old Ainsley Johnson, 8-year-old Bradley Lund and 18-year-old Rylee Britton.
“Our hearts continue to break for the families impacted by this unimaginable tragedy,” said Milhiser. “Thank you to the medical providers and law enforcement for their response and thorough investigation. We will continue to pray for the families and all of Chatham. This is a horrific case with lives taken and families and a community changed forever.”
