CHICAGO — One woman lost her foot while another was seriously burned in a fireworks accident in a Southwest Side park the night of July 4, police said.
The incident occurred in West Lawn Park about 11 p.m. Thursday.
The women were watching a fireworks display when errant fireworks flew toward them and exploded near their legs, police said.
A 32-year-old woman lost her left foot in the blast and severely burned her other foot.
A 34-year-old woman suffered fourth-degree burns on her left leg, police said.
Reached at his family's home, Fabian Carmona, 37, identified the burned victim as his sister Lorena Perez, 39, and the woman who lost her foot as Kristina Perez, 29.
Carmona said his family goes to West Lawn Park every July 4 to see an unofficial fireworks display put on by neighbors and friends.
"We go there every year to see fireworks. It's just kind of something we look forward to," Carmona said.
Carmona said he was sitting with a group of about 15, when the fireworks tilted on a slope and shot straight toward them.
"We were in shock. We didn't know what to do," Carmona said. "I still can't believe what happened."
Lorena Perez, mother of two daughters, and Kristina Perez, who has two sons, were taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.
Carmona said his sister, who works at McDonald's corporate office in Oak Brook, had surgery early Friday morning but hadn't seen her since.
He was unable to comment on the condition of Kristina Perez.
