Tag Archives: kankakee

Body of boy recovered from the Kankakee River

From the Associated Press

(WILMINGTON) The body of a 12-year-old boy who on Memorial Day disappeared in a strong Kankakee River current near a dam south of Chicago has been found.

The body of Eder Arroyo was pulled Wednesday from the river, about 3-1/2 miles from where he and his sister, 13-year-old Abigail Arroyo, became trapped. The girl was pronounced dead at a Joliet hospital late Monday after being rescued and hospitalized in serious condition.

Wilmington Deputy Fire Chief Todd Friddle said the boy was found in a shallow, middle portion of the river.

Authorities say the Arroyo family of Joliet were on a family outing in Wilmington when the boy went into the river to observe a waterfall created by the dam. His sister entered the water when the boy yelled he couldn’t get out.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Three killed, one injured in Kankakee crash

(KANKAKEE) Three people were killed and another person was injured in a single-vehicle crash Monday morning in downstate Kankakee.

Kankakee County sheriff’s police found the crash about 5 a.m. at Route 45 and the I-57 exit ramp, according to a statement from Kankakee police.

The vehicle appeared to have been southbound on Route 45, left the road and struck a traffic light at the southbound exit ramp of I-57, police said. The vehicle continued about 75 feet into the ditch.

One person was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Two passengers were also dead at the scene. Another passenger walked away from the wreckage and was taken to a hospital.

Their names were not known Monday morning, police said.

Only one lane remains open in the area of the crash, but the traffic is moving, police said.

Teen boy killed, another airlifted to Christ after Kankakee crash

(KANKAKEE) A 15-year-old boy was killed and three others were injured in a crash Sunday night in downstate Kankakee.

A 2013 Hyundai was traveling southbound at 9:49 p.m. Sunday at Route 17 and West Avenue and did not yield at the T-intersection and struck a westbound 2008 Pontiac, according to a statement from Illinois State Police.

A 15-year-old boy who was a passenger in the Pontiac was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police. His name was not released Monday.

The 16-year-old boy driving the Pontiac was injured and airlifted to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, police said. Both boys were from downstate Reddick.

Carmella Larson, 33, was the driver of the Hyundai and was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and failure to yield, police said. She and the 32-year-old man who was her passenger were also injured and taken to a local hospital, police said. They are both from St. Anne.

Man charged with murder in fatal Kankakee apartment fire

(KANKAKEE) A 61-year-old man has been charged with murder and arson in connection with a fire that left two young boys dead earlier this month in downstate Kankakee.

Alex Sawyer has been charged with two counts of murder and eight counts of aggravated arson for the April 13 fire that left 2-year-old Ju’shaun Watson and 4-year-old Justice Stewart dead and injured eight others, including three firefighters, according to Kankakee Fire Chief Ron Young.

His court information was not immediately known Tuesday night.

Young said investigators believe the motive for setting the fire was revenge, but did not elaborate further in a statement Tuesday.

The boys were airlifted to the hospitals with severe burns following the fire, which started about 1:45 a.m. April 13 in the rear stairwell of a two-story building in the 800 block of West Station Street, Young said.

When firefighters arrived, they saw smoke billowing from the second floor and residents hanging out windows, Young said.

Ju’shaun was pronounced dead at 12:10 p.m. April 17 at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood; and 4-year-old Justice Stewart died at 3:54 p.m. April 15 at Comer Children’s Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

An autopsy for Justice on did not rule on cause and manner of death, with results pending further investigation. Autopsy results for Ju’shaun weren’t immediately available.

In addition to the boys, a 65-year-old woman suffered smoke inhalation; a 25-year-old man burned his hands and jumped out of a window; a 22-year-old woman burned her hands; and three others suffered injuries in the fire. Their conditions were stabilized at hospitals, Young said.

Three firefighters were also treated for injuries they suffered while battling the blaze, Young said.

It took crews about an hour and a half to put out the flames. Twenty-two people were displaced, Young said.

Police: Kankakee Fire Was Revenge

By Nick Gale, WLS News

(CHICAGO)  Investigators in Kankakee say a fire last week that left two children dead was purposely set.

Kankakee police say 61-year-old Alex Sawyer is in custody for last week’s apartment fire. He faces two counts of murder and eight counts of aggravated arson.

Eight people were injured in the blaze including three firefighters. A 2-year-old and a 4-year-old died after being hospitalized with injures. The blaze left 20 people homeless.

Investigators say the fire was an act of revenge, but aren’t elaborating.​

 

@ 2016 WLS-AM News

2 children among 6 injured in Kankakee three-alarm fire

(KANKAKEE) Two children and a firefighter were among six people injured when a three-alarm fire broke out at an apartment building in downstate Kankakee early Wednesday, leaving 22 people displaced.

Firefighters responded about 1:45 a.m. to multiple calls of a fire in the two-story building in the 800 block of West Station Street, according to Kankakee Fire Chief Ron Young.

When firefighters arrived, they saw heavy smoke coming from the second floor and “numerous” people hanging out windows, Young said, adding that firefighters immediately went into rescue mode.

Two boys, ages 2 and 4, were burned in the fire and pulled from front windows of the building, Young said. The younger boy was airlifted to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, while the older boy was airlifted to Comer Children’s Hospital. They were both listed in critical condition.

A 65-year-old woman suffered from smoke inhalation; a 25-year-old man burned his hands and jumped out a window; and a 22-year-old woman also suffered burns to her hands, Young said. They were all taken to local hospitals, where their conditions were stabilized.

A firefighter also suffered minor burns while battling the blaze and was treated at the scene, Young said.

The building had eight units on the second floor and two businesses on the first floor and 22 residents — eight children and 14 adults — were displaced as a result of the fire, Young said. The American Red Cross was called to the scene and assisted at least 16 people with housing.

The blaze was extinguished by 3:15 a.m., Young said. The fire is believed to have started in a rear stairwell of the building, but the cause remains under investigation Wednesday morning.