New troubling idea on the cause of the female driver crashing into after-school club, resulting in the deaths of four young girls.

The driver of a car that plowed through an after-school program and killed three young kids and a teen may have suffered a medical emergency.

Marianne Akers’ black Jeep rammed straight through the YNOT Outdoors Summer and After School Camp in Chatham, Illinois, about 3.20pm on Monday.

Kathryn Corley and Alma Buhnerkempe, both seven, Ainsley Grace Johnson, eight, and Rylee Britton, 18, died and six other children were injured. 

Marianne Akers, aged 44, was found to have tested negative for drugs or alcohol, ruling out their influence as factors in the tragic incident where she veered off the road, causing a devastating crash that claimed the lives of three young children and a teenager, as confirmed by the police.

The Illinois State Police, under the leadership of Director Brendan Kelly, have indicated that while there is no evidence of drugs or alcohol in Akers’ system, suggesting impairment was not a factor, they are still investigating the possibility of a medical emergency as the cause of the accident. However, as of now, this theory has not been definitively proven.

No decision has been made whether to charge Akers with any crime, he said.

A haunting and heartbreaking scenario unfolded when Marianne Akers, a school food service worker, lost control of her vehicle, crashing into an after-school program area and tragically causing the deaths of four young individuals, leaving the community in shock and mourning.

Akers, 44, was filmed in handcuffs, with her hair in a messy bun and wearing a dark grey T-shirt, but police said she was taken to a local hospital for evaluation and was not under arrest

Unconfirmed reports from alleged witnesses on social media claimed Akers had a seizure in hospital and had no recollection of the crash, and family friends said she had a diabetic episode.

Akers was filmed at the scene in handcuffs, with her hair in a messy bun and wearing a dark grey T-shirt. She was uninjured despite crashing through a wall.

Police at the time said she was taken to a local hospital for evaluation with toxicology results still pending, and was not under arrest.

‘Akers is not in custody at this time as the cause of the crash remains under investigation,’ Illinois State Police said on Tuesday.

The Chatham Police Department debunked rampant social media rumors that Akers was drunk and failed a field sobriety test after the crash.

‘This is not true. Please stop sharing this,’ the department’s Facebook page commented on a post claiming Akers was arrested for a suspected DUI.

Toxicology results have now confirmed Akers was not under the influence during the crash. 

Akers was a food service worker at Chatham Elementary School and is a mother of two children – a teenage boy and girl.

Ainsley Johnson, 7, was killed when she was run over by a car that crashed into her after school program in Chatham, Illinois, on Monday

Alma Buhnerkempe, 7, was also killed along with another little girl, and an 18-year-old woman

Rylee Britton, 18, was one of the high school seniors who helped run the program and was killed along with the three children

She now works for the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Business Services, and was at the Illinois State Police from June 2006 to August 2018.

ISP, which is investigating the crash, said Akers was not an officer or investigator, and no one she worked with was still there.

Ainsley’s grandfather Galen Johnson mourned her online with a photo of her in an adorable fancy dress outfit.

‘Words alone cannot express the pain we in the Johnson family are feeling with the loss of granddaughter Ainsley Grace Johnson. Love you “Squirt!”‘ he wrote.

Ainsley was a dancer at Studio M Dance Centre, where her teacher Mariah Clark promised to always remember her.

‘Ainsley brought so much light and joy into my class, she always gave me a little hip-hop tude and I lived for it,’ she said.

‘Her smile was so bright, her personality was already so big at such a young age, and she danced like she meant it. I will forever keep Ainsley in my heart.’

Britton, who was soon to study English and secondary education at Iowa University, was one of the high school seniors who helped run the program.

She was a senior at Glenwood High School and like many of the student staff, planned to be a teacher. 

‘One of my favorite things about her was how she was unconditionally nice to everyone,’ a classmate said.

‘She was super intelligent and always made people laugh.’

A memorial for Britton featuring her senior class photo

Ainsley’s grandfather Galen Johnson mourned her online with a photo of her in an adorable fancy dress outfit (left). Alma is pictured right with her brother

Four of the injured children are still in hospital, according to the most recent update from officials.

A friend of one eight-year-old girl’s parents said she had numerous pelvic and back fractures.

Ella Orsi, 7, was one of the most badly hurt, suffering facial fractures, a broken jaw, damaged teeth, brain swelling, and brain bleeding.

The junior dancer, who was in the same class at Studio M Dance Centre as Ainsley, is recovering in the PICU – heavily medicated with a tube helping her breathe.

Family friend Casey Sitko said Ella had so far avoided needing brain surgery, but would need plastic surgery to repair her face, starting later this week.

‘Ella has been responsive and communicating by squeezing her parents’ hands. She opened her eyes briefly [on Tuesday],’ she said.

‘Ella is an absolute joy to be around. She loves to have fun, make jokes, and laugh! Her smile is infectious, and we can’t wait to see it again.’

Three of the victims were hit by the Jeep as they stood outside the building, while the fourth person who died was inside the building, police said.

The six injured children were rushed to hospital, including one with injuries so severe they had to be airlifted for treatment.

‘Postmortem procedures done today indicate that they all died from multiple blunt force injuries sustained in the incident,’ Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon said.

Ella Orsi, 7, is fighting horrific injuries from the crash in hospital

Ella was one of the most badly hurt, suffering facial fractures, a broken jaw, damaged teeth, brain swelling, and brain bleeding

Akers crashed her car into the east side of the facility with such force that it burst out the other side seconds later. 

After veering off the road, the car went through a field, it crossed a road, the footpath and YNOT’s car park before going through the building. The Jeep then crossed a gravel road and crashed into a pole and fence.

‘The cause of the crash remains under investigation, but this does not appear to be a targeted attack,’ Illinois State Police said.

The program is designed for school-aged children and is run by college students and ‘very mature’ high school seniors – most of whom have ambitions themselves of one day becoming educators.

A fundraiser for the victims and their families has already attracted more than $188,000 in donations. 

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker expressed his horror on Monday afternoon, writing: ‘Parents said goodbye to their kids this morning not knowing it would be the last time.

‘Our community lost a group of bright and innocent young people with their whole lives ahead of them. 

‘Let’s wrap our arms around the community tonight as we receive updates on the situation.’

The car drove straight through the YNOT Outdoors Summer and After School Camp in Chatham, Illinois, on Monday about 3.20pm

Akers’ damaged black Jeep after it was pulled out of the building

Devastated locals recalled the moment their neighbors, friends, and loved ones learned of the tragedy and rushed to the scene.

‘Watching people you know sprint past your house, not knowing if their children are safe, is a gut-wrenching experience. My heart aches for everyone,’ one wrote.

Employees and volunteers at the local blood bank, Impact Life, urged locals to give blood this week, as they drained much of their stockpile helping victims of the crash.

‘After the tragic events today the blood bank is running low, please if your able go donate,’ one woman wrote.

Another said: ‘I work at the Blood Center, and we had to pack up so much of our supply for this, so please if you can donate blood, platelets, any of it, go do it.’ 

Illinois Senator Doris Turner said she was ‘heartbroken’ by the tragedy.

YNOT is a summer and after school camp offering three hours of care for busy parents with little ones 

Akers is understood to have crashed her car into the east side of the school facility with such force that it burst out the other side seconds later 

Madison Foster, 10, points out the flowers and plush bunny she left for the victims 

‘When we drop our kids off in the morning, we should always have the utmost belief that they will come home safely at the end of the day,’ she wrote.

‘For some families, that belief was shaken today following the tragedy at YNOT in Chatham.

‘I am heartbroken – there truly are no words to explain what the Chatham community is feeling and will feel for days, weeks and months to come. 

‘I want to thank the first responders, law enforcement and volunteers.’