(AP/WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Authorities say three people have died after apparently igniting a "powder substance" along a riverbank near a state park in northern Illinois along.
First responders were called to an area west of the Starved Rock State Park boat ramp where they they discovered three dead males around 7:20 p.m. Thursday.
LaSalle County Coroner Rich Ploch says the three died from injuries they received in the explosion.
The individuals were fishing about 150 yards west of the Route 178 bridge when they dug a hole, poured in a powdery substance and lit it, he said. They were killed instantly.
“There were some things discovered that may indicate they were in the process of potentially cooking something, and potentially it was being used to light a fire and things went awry,” Ploch told WBBM Newsradio Friday. “Or, they were just saying, ‘Let’s have some entertainment and see what this does’ type of thing.”
Autopsies are planned.
The victims' names haven't been released. It may be the middle of next week before the victims’ identities have been established, Ploch said.
The explosion occurred about 75 miles southwest of Chicago.
The Illinois State Police is assisting in an investigation.
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