CARTERVILLE, Ill.—Sources in Williamson County are reporting a tragedy in the Carterville area this evening involving children falling through ice.
We have just received a report that one of the kids, a 12-year-old boy, has lost his life as a result of the incident, despite the best efforts of responders at the scene.
The whole thing occurred earlier this evening; while an exact time is unavailable at this point, it did occur after dark and responders were at the scene just before 6 p.m.
The scene is a man-made pond near Arbor Drive in Carterville. It’s reported that three youngsters were playing on the iced-over pond or lake, and apparently all three fell through; one child made it to the shore of the pond, one child was removed from the icy water by a neighbor who used a utility extension cord to pull him out, but the third was trapped under the ice. First responders were able to get him out, but it appears attempts at reviving him failed. Our sources have advised that all three were taken to the emergency room in Herrin by Carterville Fire Department ambulance.
More as we get it; keep checking back.