Two women were injured Thursday night while watching an amateur fireworks display in their neighborhood.
A 34-year-old woman suffered severe burns and a 32-year-old woman's left foot was severed in the incident, police said. They were transferred to Advocate Christ Medical Center.
The women told police they were watching fireworks around 11 p.m. at West Lawn Park in the 6600 block of South Keeler when a bright light flew toward them and exploded.
The 32-year-old woman's foot was severed and she suffered serious injuries to her right foot. The second woman suffered fourth-degree burns to her left leg. Fourth-degrees is the most severe type of burns, typically charring the skin and affecting the deep tissues and muscles of the area.
Fireworks were still going off nearby as police searched the area Thursday for evidence.
In Illinois, which has a ban on most fireworks, 41 people were hospitalized last year due to fireworks injuries. Another 241 people were treated and released, officials said.
In Chicago, the rules against fireworks are even more strict. A Chicago Fire Department spokesman on Monday said, basically, "If it goes bang or has a flame," it's illegal to use within city limits. That includes sparklers.
Related Stories:
