All Flags in Illinois Will Remain at Half-Staff After Tragic Crash Downstate

Governor JB Pritzker has ordered all U.S. and Illinois state flags to remain at half-staff in honor of the young lives lost in a downstate crash.

Flags across the state of Illinois have been lowered for over a week since the death of Pope Francis, and then stayed at half-staff to honor a fallen Fire Captain in Chicago.

Honoring Young Lives Lost in Central Illinois

U.S. and state flags across Illinois will be flown at half-staff from sunrise on Wednesday, April 30, through sunset on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

This directive comes in honor and remembrance of the lives lost in a heartbreaking accident that struck the community of Chatham, Illinois.

READ MORE: Flags at Half-Staff to Honor Fallen Illinois Fire Captain

According to AP, a vehicle left the roadway on Monday (4/28), crossed the field, and violently crashed through a building used for an after-school program.

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Illinois State Police confirmed the vehicle tore through the facility, striking multiple children inside before exiting the opposite wall. Law enforcement has not identified any indication of a targeted attack, according to AP.

Mourning in Chatham

The devastating collision claimed the lives of three children and a teenager. Six more children were injured, including one who remains in critical condition.

As the community of Chatham rallies together, state leaders have extended their condolences and offered support.

A Symbol of Statewide Grief

Lowering flags to half-staff serves as a visible sign of mourning across Illinois. The act aligns with the Illinois Flag Display Act, which mandates this gesture for lives lost in significant public tragedies in Illinois.

Unless there's another order by Governor Pritzker, flags will return to full-staff at sunrise on Sunday, May 4.