fourteen people injured in boat explosion in Seneca
fourteen people were injured on Saturday afternoon when the boat exploded on the pier in Seneca.
SENECA, Illinois – Fourteen people were injured when the boat hooked fire on the pier in Seneca, Illinois on Saturday, officials said.
Witnesses said they heard an explosion around 4:30 p.m. at the Spring Brook Wharf and then saw raging flames and thick smoke coming from the boat.
The Illinois State Police said there were 17 of them. people on board – when it’s a beautiful day on water took terrible twist.
“We were at the pool, the kids were swimming,” Stephanie Manzello said.
Manzello, who camping in in area said she was amazed sound of explosion.
“We just heard a loud roar. And we looked around. It’s Memorial Day weekend, we thought it was just fireworks,” Manzello said. – After about 30 seconds, we saw how the gray smoke turned into black smoke”.
Local and state agencies responded to the help, including the Seneca Police Department, the Seneca Fire Department, the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office, and the Illinois State Police.
“In just a few minutes, we started hearing sirens,” Manzello said.
Thirteen of 17 passengers of the boat were injured. One of they were airlifted to a local hospital with serious injuries and 12 people were taken to local hospitals. with non-life threatening injuries.
One pier employee also sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the hospital with total amount of people 14 people were injured, according to ISP.
“We saw a helicopter and thought it might be news. We saw a medical tow truck on on the side, and we were hoping it wouldn’t land, and it did, so we were afraid someone would get hurt,” Manzello said.
Eyewitnesses nearby said at the time of After the explosion, the boat, which the US Coast Guard described as a 30-foot vessel, was at the wharf’s gas station.
still unclear what caused explosion and caused fire.
Nature Conservation Police with Department of Illinois of Natural resources leading this is an investigation.
Seneca is small a city located about an hour southwest of Chicago in Counties of LaSalle and Grande.
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