Car Explodes In Plainfield, 2 Teens Seriously Hurt

PLAINFIELD, IL — A car exploded in the parking lot of Plainfield Central High School on Tuesday, injuring two teenagers, according to the police.

A release sent by the Plainfield Police Department said that its officers and the Plainfield Fire Protection District received numerous calls at 2:04 a.m., regarding a "loud explosion" in the area of the high school located at 24120 W. Fort Beggs Drive.

Upon arrival of emergency personnel, a vehicle was found to be fully engulfed in fire in the south parking lot of the high school. Additionally, two victims with numerous burn and blast injuries were located, police said.

The victims, later identified as two 14-year-old boys, told investigators they had left their homes without permission and one of them had taken his father's work vehicle. While they were driving around, "they heard a hissing sound coming from somewhere in the vehicle," the release said.

The boys pulled into the south parking lot of the high school, and when they exited the vehicle to investigate, an explosion from within the vehicle occurred. Upon contacting the owner of the vehicle, he said that due to the nature of his work, he was transporting an acetylene tank in the trunk of the vehicle, police said.

Plainfield Fire Chief Jon Stratton told Patch that he heard the explosion from his home a few blocks away. He went outside, saw a fire near the high school and drove over.

"I've never heard an explosion this loud ... it rocked my house," he said.

Stratton said he pulled into the parking lot and saw a fully involved vehicle. One teenage boy ran up to his truck and was "full of blood."

Stratton asked him if there was anyone else in or near the vehicle, and the teen said his friend was outside the vehicle near the baseball diamond. Stratton said they got his friend and brought him to the truck because explosions were still going off in the vehicle.

One teen sustained a minor injury to his face from the blast and was transported to AMITA Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet via a Plainfield ambulance. The other had more severe head injuries and was initially transported to AMITA Saint Joseph Medical Center, and then airlifted to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood. The parents were immediately contacted, Stratton said.

Stratton described the condition of both boys as serious.

The case is under investigation by the Plainfield Police Department and the Plainfield Fire Protection District.

Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact Plainfield Police Detective Sergeant Kevin McQuaid at 815-267-7209.

Additional reporting by Illinois Regional Editor Shannon Antinori.

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