Kendyn Damm,Third Grade Student, Mother Killed in Early Morning I-55 Crash
SPRINGFIELD — A morning commute turned tragic on Jan. 6, claiming the lives of a Riverton mother and her young daughter. The fatal collision occurred around 6:45 a.m. on Interstate 55 South near the I-72 split, when their vehicle struck the rear of a semi-trailer truck.
The North Mac School District later confirmed the heartbreaking identities of the victims in a Facebook post. They were eight-year-old Kendyn Damm, a beloved third-grade student at North Mac Intermediate School in Girard, and her mother, 37-year-old Jennifer Damm.
The community is reeling from the sudden loss. A family member’s social media post also named the pair, as friends, neighbors, and classmates begin to mourn. The school district has mobilized crisis counselors to support grieving students and staff, emphasizing the profound impact Kendyn had on her school community.
Details regarding the cause of the crash remain under investigation by authorities. The incident has left a family shattered and a small community grappling with an immense, heartbreaking loss.
