Fourth of July Tragedies

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By WEEK Producer

Story Published: Jul 5, 2009 at 8:50 PM CST

Story Updated: Jul 5, 2009 at 9:45 PM CST

This fourth of July Holiday weekend started off on a tragic note in the town of Roanoke.

One person died and three others injured after a woman accidently drove her car into a crowd following the town's fireworks on Friday. The Peoria County Coroner says 60-year-old Steven Hodel died from multiple crushing injuries to the chest and pelvis after being run over around 9-20 Friday night. Authorities say the driver 85-year-old Ruby Kennell mistakenly hit the accelerator instead of the brake in the one-hundred block of East Broad Street.

The Woodford County Sheriff's Department is investigating the incident.

And right after 9:30 Sunday night, rescue crews are responding to a fireworks accident in Lake Camelot. Authorities will only say about a handful of people were injured. The extent of those injuries is not known.
We'll bring you the latest as it becomes available.

Thursday, Jul 9 at 8:46 PM nobody wrote ...

they old women should not be allowed to drive anymore and nothing else should be done about plus those people should have not been sitting there in the frist place . so its their fault they got hurt and the guy got killed. i do feel sorry for the family. but its up to the cops now. nobody else besides the cops have a say in it.

Tuesday, Jul 7 at 12:49 PM idea wrote ...

How baout we pass a law that executes anyone over 75?

Tuesday, Jul 7 at 12:08 AM Strapping Young Lad wrote ...

Majority of these old fogies couldn't pass a field sobriety test due to the imparement of old age. Take grandma's keys away and throw her in the old folks home, where the most damage she can do is miss her bingo card and stain the table with ink instead of staining the roads with blood.

Tuesday, Jul 7 at 12:00 AM Buford wrote ...

I about spilled my dang beer when I saw that crowd git blown to pieces. Some lady was screamin like a banshee cause she got all hurt and stuff. Lol at god protecting yall, like he set out to hurt them little kids and not your but.

Monday, Jul 6 at 11:55 PM Jesse wrote ...

Thank God they got hit and not me!

Monday, Jul 6 at 6:00 PM not telling wrote ...

first of all i know the people who got hit and the girl and guy in the crowd are close friends..they are fine but the lady who got hit in the eye probally isnt.. my close firneds mom said it like burnt her contact and she was responding but in very much shock...so dont be spreading rumors.

Monday, Jul 6 at 5:07 PM and stupid people wrote ...

that can't spell, shouldn't be allowed to post here. amazed and confused already nailed that one!

Monday, Jul 6 at 4:00 PM Old people should not drive wrote ...

IM more concerned about the old lady that killed someone driving. This shows there needs to be an age limit to drive from age 20-70. This would eliminate teenagers from driving & old people. Accidents would go down. Old people are a menace on the highway. They drive slow,make all kinds of mistakes. Why not at 70 start revoking licenses & taking away their cars so they cannot hurt people. Why should people die due to someone being cenille,half blind & decreped.

Monday, Jul 6 at 12:20 PM LC Resident wrote ...

I viewed the fireworks display from the lake. When the grand finale began, fireworks from the north side of the beach competed with the professional display. Each year, spectators arrive early to reserve a good spot on the hill to enjoy the show. Why would anyone return year after year if they left covered in ash? Live in LC needs to reveal the source of the straight facts. Then everyone concerned about the incident will feel much better about "being wrong". It does matter to the community!

Monday, Jul 6 at 10:39 AM Live in LC wrote ...

Not that it matters but, everyone on here is wrong...thats how rumers get started... just so everyone has their facts straight: The teenage girl is ok, burns to her legs. The woman is ok, burns to her face, her son was NOT hit he is fine. Accidents happen, it was no ones fault. There was 2 different fireworks that miss fired..one hit the water at the beach the other hit the in the crowd. They did not come from the tennis courts, it was no one in the crowd that shot it off.

Monday, Jul 6 at 9:53 AM Anonymous wrote ...

To Amazed and Confused:You talk about the spelling and grammar of those responding to the article, have you ever paid close attention to the articles themselves? Some of the reporters are no better but you make no comment on that. When you are thinking and typing, sometimes your brain thinks faster than you can type which can cause typos, or maybe, it's because it's an emotional issue for some. I'm concerned about your passion for people and the tragic accidents; these are far bigger issues!

Monday, Jul 6 at 9:39 AM Concerned Citizen wrote ...

I was at the fireworks display last night as well and the firework that went off in the crowd came from behind me and as far as I know they were not shooting off fireworks from the tennis courts!

Monday, Jul 6 at 9:30 AM concerned wrote ...

everybody is concerned, take it east on the spelling and grammer.. it was a trategy.. does anyone know how the girl and lady are doing

Monday, Jul 6 at 9:26 AM Amazed and Confused... wrote ...

Given the spelling and grammar skills of most of people who are commenting on this board, it's truly amazing any of you have managed to live this long. For the sake of all of us, please do not procreate. Learn how to spell and write in coherent and complete sentences before you decide to comment on ANY story.

Monday, Jul 6 at 9:26 AM paul wrote ...

i know the teenager and her boyfriend that got hi,the 16 year old goes to IB and the woman who got hit in the eye were the worst.. it was the finally that hit these people. not someone who shot into the croud. this is what firework company already said, he seen it happen.. hope everyon recovers

Monday, Jul 6 at 9:22 AM Me again wrote ...

Concerned citizen is wrong u have to get a pyro license to buy what went off in the crowd and I no I'm right I was right there

Monday, Jul 6 at 9:18 AM Brett wrote ...

Who ever said pray harder erica was praying good it doesn't matter how hard you pray just as loony as u believe in god all things are possible

Monday, Jul 6 at 9:16 AM Suzi wrote ...

I, too, have been to the LC fireworks a few times It may have been some "idiot" who injured the people in the crowd, however, there certainly is ash on you when you leave. The display always seemed too big for the area to me.

Monday, Jul 6 at 9:13 AM Brett wrote ...

What heppend was a lady had one blow up i'm her face and then that same fire work burned a lady back badly and I think it burnt another person bit there also was another fire work from the grand fanally that blew up on the beach that I think hit 2 people

Monday, Jul 6 at 9:00 AM Concerned Citizen wrote ...

Just to let you know it was not the professionals that did not keep the people safe it was some idiot in the crowd who lit off a firework right when the finale started and injured those people, you need to get the story straight before you comment and condemn the whole community for some stupid person's actions!

Monday, Jul 6 at 6:10 AM Billy Bob wrote ...

Maybe Lake Camelot shouldnt be having a fireworks display....Go where its safe!!

Monday, Jul 6 at 5:51 AM Lynn wrote ...

I live in Lake Camelot and I don't think this has ever happened. Granted, Lake Camelot should have found a better way to make sure the crowd was far enough away, but I think common sense weighs bigtime.

Monday, Jul 6 at 4:31 AM Stephane wrote ...

I was at Lake Camelot and they should of never had people set that close to the fireworks.. me and my family had ash and gun powder all over.. my mom and step dad took the 4 lil kids we had with us to the car as i stayed there.. when the grand finale started there was a green firework that exploded 2 feet away from me. i also saw this lady get hit in the side... if they have them next year they should try to keep the people back some ways so this wont happend again.

Sunday, Jul 5 at 11:49 PM Beanito wrote ...

Should have prayed harder, Erica. Thanks for the details.

Sunday, Jul 5 at 10:33 PM Camelot resident wrote ...

The girl was 15, a woman that is a nurse and her son were all injured. The little boy suffered a burn to his arm, the Mom had a bad wound to her eye and the 15 year old suffered several burns.

Sunday, Jul 5 at 10:33 PM Erica wrote ...

I was also at the lake camelot fire works tonight with Brett. We were very close to 2 of the people who were injured. I ran over to lay hands on them to pray for them. There were 2 women, one I think had her face hit close to her eye and the other had her back hit. I know there were others injured as well but those were the only 2 I saw. I heard a police man say a little girl was hit as well. We are praying for the victitms and I thank God it wasnt worse and that He protected us.

Sunday, Jul 5 at 10:27 PM angie wrote ...

What exactly happened at Lake Camelot?

Sunday, Jul 5 at 10:20 PM Jody wrote ...

Did anything good happen this weekend???

Sunday, Jul 5 at 10:07 PM John wrote ...

There was actually quite a few people injured. The one girl they are referring to looked about 13 or so. The whole place was filled with tons of firetrucks and cops. God bless.

Sunday, Jul 5 at 9:54 PM D.B. wrote ...

how old was the little girl? I'm praying for everyone

Sunday, Jul 5 at 9:45 PM Brett again wrote ...

It could of just as well been me but thank god for proctecting me

Sunday, Jul 5 at 9:40 PM Brett wrote ...

i was sitting right there in lake camelot when they bleew up in the crowd right across from me two went of in the crowd. i wont give out any more info sorry but my parents and a couple of ther friends started praying right then and 3 other people joined in. i hope they are fine. just all we can do is pray. god bless all we can do is pray for them.

Sunday, Jul 5 at 9:22 PM Lily wrote ...

i was there my coisin was right next to it i know the girls bother luke and the girl who got really hit was hailey poor famiy and god bless

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