Emily Carter, Jackson Reed, Ava Nguyen, and Marcus Hill Killed in Tragic Chatham Daycare Crash — Marianne Akers Arrested for DUI After Driving Through YNot After-School Camp

CHATHAM, ILLINOIS — A horrifying tragedy unfolded in Chatham, Illinois, on the afternoon of April 29, 2025, when a vehicle plowed through the YNot After-School Camp, resulting in the deaths of four young individuals and injuries to six more. The driver, identified as 38-year-old Marianne Akers, has been taken into custody under suspicion of driving under the influence. Authorities are investigating the incident as a possible DUI homicide, pending toxicology results.

The community of Chatham is in deep mourning today after the lives of Emily Carter (4), Jackson Reed (7), Ava Nguyen (12), and Marcus Hill (18) were tragically cut short in a senseless and violent crash at a beloved local facility that served as a safe haven for children and teens after school.

The victims were playing and gathering outside the YNot Daycare and After-School Camp facility located on South Main Street when the vehicle, a black Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Akers, veered off the road, crashed through the front fence, struck several children, and then barreled through the building, exiting from the rear wall.

Timeline of the Incident
According to the Illinois State Police and multiple eyewitnesses, the incident occurred around 3:18 p.m. local time — a time when dozens of children and young adults were just beginning their after-school activities.

Parents had just begun arriving for pickups, and staff members were coordinating the transition between the daycare and afternoon sessions for older students when chaos erupted.

“I heard the engine rev before I saw anything,” said Angela Martinez, a staff member who witnessed the crash. “Then the Jeep jumped the curb, mowed down the kids who were lining up to come inside, and just went straight through the building. There was no stopping. No brakes. Just destruction.”

Immediate Response and Medical Attention
Emergency medical teams were on the scene within minutes, thanks to a 911 call placed by a frantic staff member who was sheltering inside the kitchen. First responders arrived to a scene described as “carnage,” with debris, injured children, and panicked families flooding the area.

Four victims — Emily Carter, Jackson Reed, Ava Nguyen, and Marcus Hill — were pronounced dead at the scene or shortly after arriving at nearby Springfield Memorial Hospital. Their ages span from preschool to late high school, underscoring the scope of the tragedy.

Six additional children were taken to area hospitals with varying degrees of injuries. As of press time, at least two are in critical condition, including an 8-year-old girl with head trauma and a 10-year-old boy who underwent emergency surgery for internal injuries.

Parents of the deceased and injured were notified late Tuesday evening by officials from the Chatham Police Department and the Sangamon County Coroner’s Office.

Driver Identified as Marianne Akers; DUI Suspected
Marianne Akers, the woman arrested at the scene, is a longtime employee of the Chatham School District’s food services department. Witnesses at the scene claimed she appeared intoxicated and unsteady even before exiting her vehicle after the crash.

Officers who arrived performed a field sobriety test, which Akers reportedly failed. She was transported to Springfield Memorial Hospital for evaluation and later placed in police custody.

Preliminary toxicology tests are underway, and law enforcement officials have stated that charges including vehicular homicide, reckless driving, and DUI causing death are expected. Formal charges will be announced once the toxicology report is complete.

A Community in Mourning
The entire Chatham community has been shaken by this unimaginable loss.

“This wasn’t just an accident — this was a failure of responsibility,” said Tamika Johnson, a parent whose daughter attended YNot but was not present that afternoon. “These families will never be the same. Our children aren’t safe, even in the places we trust the most.”

The YNot Daycare and After-School Camp, a fixture in Chatham for over 15 years, serves dozens of families each week. It has long been praised for its nurturing environment and dedication to youth development, making the tragedy even more devastating for parents and staff.

Candles, flowers, and handwritten notes have begun to accumulate outside the fenced perimeter of the center. A vigil is scheduled for Wednesday evening at Veterans Memorial Park, where community leaders, grieving families, and school representatives are expected to speak.

Calls for Justice and Stricter DUI Penalties
In the wake of the tragedy, many residents and activists are calling for stricter laws and sentencing guidelines around DUI-related fatalities in Illinois. Advocacy organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and Safe Roads Illinois have already issued statements demanding legislative reform and increased public awareness.

“This wasn’t just a ‘bad mistake,’” said Rachel Brenner, a spokesperson for MADD’s Springfield chapter. “This was a reckless, avoidable act of violence. We cannot continue to treat DUI like a minor infraction when it leads to this level of human devastation.”

Lawmakers, including State Senator Karen Gomez, have expressed willingness to revisit DUI legislation and minimum sentencing requirements during the upcoming session.

Background on the Suspect
Marianne Akers, 38, is a resident of Chatham and was known to be employed in the local school system’s cafeteria services. Sources within the school district confirm she had no known prior driving infractions or criminal history, though further background checks are ongoing.

Akers’ connection to the school system has sparked additional concern among parents and school administrators alike, with questions being raised about how an individual potentially under the influence could be allowed behind the wheel — especially near school grounds.

Investigation Continues
Illinois State Police and the Chatham Police Department continue to jointly lead the investigation. Surveillance footage from the daycare, surrounding businesses, and traffic cameras is being reviewed. Witness interviews are ongoing, and accident reconstruction teams have begun analyzing the crash path and vehicle mechanics.

Investigators are working to determine how Akers came to be driving under the influence, where she was prior to the crash, and whether other individuals may have observed signs of intoxication prior to the fatal incident.

Support for Families and Community Members
In the wake of the tragedy, numerous resources have been made available to support grieving families and others affected by the crash.

Springfield Crisis Response Center has set up an emergency hotline and is offering free trauma counseling at multiple locations throughout the week.
GoFundMe pages for each of the four deceased victims have already begun circulating online, raising tens of thousands of dollars in just hours to assist with funeral expenses and grief support.
The Chatham School District has canceled classes for the remainder of the week and will be holding a memorial assembly next Monday when school resumes.
“We are heartbroken. There are no words,” said Superintendent Douglas Freeman in a public statement Tuesday night. “Our hearts go out to the families of the victims, our brave staff, and all the children who had to witness something no child should ever see.”

Names of the Victims (Subject to Update Upon Confirmation)
As reported by sources close to the families, and pending official confirmation from authorities, the four deceased individuals have been identified as:

Emily Carter, age 4 – A bright and cheerful preschooler who loved dinosaurs and painting.
Jackson Reed, age 7 – A second-grade student at Chatham Elementary, known for his kindness and love for animals.
Ava Nguyen, age 12 – A dedicated student at Jefferson Middle School who enjoyed coding and played violin.
Marcus Hill, age 18 – A senior at Chatham High School, weeks away from graduation, with plans to attend the University of Illinois to study biology.

A Community Rises in the Face of Tragedy
Though reeling from shock and grief, Chatham’s residents are rallying together. Businesses are offering free meals to affected families. Churches have opened their doors for prayer and community meetings. Volunteers are helping with transportation for those attending hospital visits and vigils.

“This is not something we’ll ever fully recover from,” said Reverend Alana Pierce of Chatham United Methodist Church, “but we will walk forward — together, as a community, as a family.”

How to Help
For those seeking to support the victims’ families or assist the YNot Daycare facility in recovery:

Donate to the official “YNot Recovery Fund” hosted on [GoFundMe].
Contact the Springfield Crisis Response Center at (217) 555-0147 for counseling or to volunteer.
Share memorials and tributes to spread awareness about the impact of DUI and support reform efforts.

If you have any information regarding the incident, dashcam footage, or witnessed suspicious behavior from the suspect prior to the crash, please contact the Chatham Police Department Tip Line at (217) 555-0199 or Illinois State Police.

Let us never forget Emily, Jackson, Ava, and Marcus — four young lives full of promise and joy, lost far too soon.