Four children aged between four and 18 have been killed after a vehicle drove into a building housing an after-school camp in the US state of Illinois, police said, adding they were investigating the crash.
Several others were injured and taken to hospital, Illinois State Police said in a statement, while the driver of the vehicle was uninjured and taken to hospital for evaluation.
"At this time, we can confirm four fatalities believed to be between the ages of four to 18 years. Three individuals were struck outside the building and one inside," the statement said.
"Several additional individuals have been transferred to local area hospitals by ambulance and one by a life flight helicopter," it added.
Police responded to the crash in Chatham, a small town around 16km south of the state capital Springfield, at around 3.20pm local time (9.20pm Irish time last night).
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker shared a statement on social media saying he was "horrified and deeply saddened" by the incident.
— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) April 29, 2025
"Parents said goodbye to their kids this morning not knowing it would be the last time," he said.
"My heart is heavy for these families and the unimaginable grief they're experiencing - something that no parent should have to endure," he added.
The after-school centre, YNOT After School Camp, said on its website that it specialises in providing outdoor activities for children.
