Pantagraph.com Weather forecast, local radar and more
NewsThursday, February 28, 2008 11:11 PM CST
Comments Comments (12) | E-mail this page E-mail this page | Print this page Print this page | Enlarge type Enlarge type | Reduce type Reduce type | Search archives Search archives | RSS RSS feeds | Add to My Yahoo! Add to My Yahoo!
Explosion hits shopping center in Waukegan
By Dave Carpenter
Associated Press
Advertisement

WAUKEGAN, Ill. -- An explosion ripped through a shopping plaza Thursday in this Chicago suburb, sending five people to a hospital, but none with life-threatening injuries, fire officials said.

The explosion struck around lunchtime in the business district, located about 40 miles north of Chicago. The impact shattered windows and collapsed the roof of the plaza, which housed businesses including a cell phone shop, a tuxedo store and a hair salon.

Deputy Fire Chief Dan Young said authorities believe the incident was caused by a gas explosion and that some shop owners in the area had smelled gas for the last couple of days. Officials were ``99.99 percent'' sure the rubble had been cleared, and there was no reason to believe anyone was missing, Young said.

``The whole back of the building was pancaked,'' Young said.

Eight people were injured in the blast, and three were treated at the scene, Young said. Of the five people sent to an area hospital, four were discharged by Thursday evening and one had been admitted, according to a hospital spokesman who said he did not know the remaining patient's condition.

A fire that erupted had been extinguished, officials said, and Young said the injuries included smoke inhalation, bumps and bruises.

Candi Rixie said she was taking orders at Leno's Submarine Shop, one block away from the shopping plaza, when she felt a huge tremor.

``We felt like an earthquake, like somebody had hit the building with a car,'' she said.

Rixie said she ran out of the restaurant to see what had happened. She and others said they first thought they saw bodies in the street, but quickly realized it was clothes and mannequins that had been on display in a store and blown outside by the blast.

Gary Podyma was taking inventory at the Living Foods Pantry health food store across the street from the shopping building when he heard a loud explosion and his windows blew out.

Then he saw a big, brown cloud and debris coming toward him.

``To see a building coming toward you like that — words can't describe the feeling you get,'' he said. ``It was frightening, it was ominous.''

He said he also smelled a strong odor of gas immediately after the blast.

``It's amazing that anybody survived,'' he said.

People's Gas spokeswoman Bonnie Johnson said a crew is on the scene but hasn't been able to get close enough to say what might have caused the explosion because the fire department hasn't given clearance.

``Until they give us a go ahead, there's no way we can go in and investigate it,'' she said.

David Motley, a spokesman for the city of Waukegan, said the brick building was decades-old.

``The roof blew up and off and fell back down,'' he said.

Officials planned to bring in special equipment to dismantle the rubble on Friday, Young said. Special equipment was needed because the building was unstable. He said the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms planned to assist in the investigation.

George Sanchez, general manager of Chicago-based Mena Travel agency, said his company's Waukegan branch was adjacent to the explosion and employees inside felt the vibrations. But the store wasn't damaged by the blast.

``Our folks are OK. They were asked to vacate the premises for safety reasons,'' he said.

Waukegan has a population of about 88,000.

Video
Most commented stories
Browse online archives
Recent issues:
Reader comments on this story - 12 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

420 wrote on Feb 29, 2008 1:33 AM:

" Well gas-lines can explode and cause injury on a massive scale so we better get working on the ban, after all we would not want to put anyone in danger now would we.
I thought it was only SHS smoke that posed a danger to the publics health? I'm confused...... "

To say wrote on Feb 28, 2008 10:46 PM:

" Such a typical right wing radical you are. Make a statement that is based on your emotion and nothing factual. When it is then pointed out that you are totally wrong instead of saying you mis-spoke you start talking about another subject entirely. You deserve out Liar In Chief and you join the 24% of Americans who think he is doing a great job. Katrina...no one blames him for the storm just the aftermath. He appointed a buddy to run FEMA, the buddy did nothing, and the people of the Big Easy are still suffering. 9-11...he was told in August exactly what the terrorists were going to do and then watched it happen without lifting a finger. Worst President in this century and soon to be gone...thank god. "

dwarf to say wrote on Feb 28, 2008 8:30 PM:

" Well - now that we can confirm this was caused by a gas leak, do you still want to lecture us on how foolish we were to believe this could have ever been caused by a gas leak?

I didn't say anything about Bush. I said it was nuts to assume terrorism when a pedestrian explanation is so much more likely. "

That guy wrote on Feb 28, 2008 7:03 PM:

" My dog has terrible gas as of late. Smells like cabbage. Really loud too. "

We have had... wrote on Feb 28, 2008 6:33 PM:

" a lot of gas leaks lately, seems kind of strange to me. "

Jason wrote on Feb 28, 2008 5:06 PM:

" Most likely this was caused by an gas leak. Can anyone define what a terrorist is anymore? "

I wonder wrote on Feb 28, 2008 4:58 PM:

" If our wonderful governor will try to restrict or ban natural gas? "

say wrote on Feb 28, 2008 4:12 PM:

" what you like. you can call me a buffoon all you like. what i see is a bunch of blind people not paying attention to the world. fear mongering? like the last 10 years? please. what about the twin towers the first time? how about the uss cole? okc? HELLO. i guess i just refuse to blame everything on bush like you morons. lol bush is a great guy. i mean really. you guys must think he is god with his weather machine causing katrina to hit the southern coast. it is all his fault about 911 too. it was planned in just 8 short months of his presidency. you guys watch too much cnn where they blame bush for everything that happens in the world. must have bush that also did london bombings on 7/7 sure it was. lol oh, let's not forget spain. get out of your cocoon and look what is going around in the entire country you idiots. just a matter of time before it comes home. "

To Hmmmm wrote on Feb 28, 2008 3:37 PM:

" You write ridiculous posts on other topics as well. Do you honestly think you sway opinion or do you just like to see your writing on line? You are truly a buffoon. "

dwarf to hmmm wrote on Feb 28, 2008 2:55 PM:

" Yes, I'm *positive* the terrorists are bombing tuxedo shops and beauty parlors in Waukegan.

There's an overwhelming probability this is a mechanical or utility failure of some sort and absolutely zero evidence to-date of a terrorist assault. I can't blame you for your attempts at fear-mongering, though - it's worked for the past 10 years! "

Bob wrote on Feb 28, 2008 2:36 PM:

" Hmmmm, I wonder what the causes of explosions were before 9/11. I guess we just didn't have any???

Its an old part of town, and is probably a gas leak. "

hmmmm wrote on Feb 28, 2008 1:41 PM:

" well now, looks like we have quite a bit of this stuff going on anymore. all over the country as well. seems someone better be paying attention. that is the voters too. don't let smooth talking drones sway you into voting for them. just because something looks good, doesn't mean it is good for you. in fact, it could be down right deadly. "
Add your own comments

Please read the rules before posting comments.

You must be logged in to leave comments.
If you don't have a member ID, please register.

*Member ID:
*Password:
Remember login?
(requires cookies)
  Forgot Your Password?
 
Lee Enterprises Customer Service | 301 W. Washington St., PO Box 2907, Bloomington, IL 61701-2907 | Ph. 309-829-9000 | 800-747-7323
Copyright © 2008, Pantagraph Publishing Co. and Lee Enterprises. All rights reserved. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy