3 men killed in explosion near Starved Rock identified Three men were found dead after a report of an explosion Thursday evening near Utica. Scott Anderson/Shaw Media
Updated 5/10/2021 5:41 PM
The three men who died after apparently igniting an explosive powder near Starved Rock State Park were relatives from Chicago, the LaSalle County coroner s office said Monday.
They have been identified as Immer Rivera Tejada, 39, Guillermo Rivera Tejada, 26 and Rafael Rivera Tejada, 36, according to Coroner Rich Ploch. He said the men were related but couldn t provide specifics.
OTTAWA, Ill. (AP) The LaSalle County coroner’s office on Monday identified three men killed last week in an explosion near Starved Rock State Park.
The men killed were identified as Immer Rivera Tejada, 39; Guillermo Rivera Tejada, 26, and Rafael Rivera Tejada, 36, all of Chicago. Coroner Rich Ploch previously said the men were “cousins and uncles.”
The men were killed Thursday when they ignited a black powder substance that exploded along a bank of the Illinois River 75 miles southwest of Chicago, authorities said.
Autopsy results were likely at least a few weeks from being released as investigators continue to investigate what caused the explosion, Ploch said.
Photo from Starved Rock State Park’s online gallery.
The three men who died after apparently igniting an explosive powder near Starved Rock State Park were relatives from Chicago, the coroner’s office said Monday.
They have been identified as Immer Rivera Tejada, 39, Guillermo Rivera Tejada, 26 and Rafael Rivera Tejada, 36, according to LaSalle County Coroner Rich Ploch. He said the men were related but couldn’t provide specifics.
He said autopsy results were likely at least a few weeks from being released as investigators continue to investigate what caused the explosion along the Illinois River near the state park, about 75 miles southwest of Chicago.
Published May 10, 2021 •
Updated on May 10, 2021 at 3:59 pm
The LaSalle County coroner on Monday identified the three men who died after apparently igniting an explosive powder near northern Illinois Starved Rock State Park.
The victims were Immer Rivera Tejada, 39, Guillermo Rivera Tejada, 26, and Rafael Rivera Tejada, 36, all of Chicago, according to WREX in Rockford. Don t miss local breaking news and weather! Download our mobile app for iOS or Android and sign up for alerts.
LaSalle County Coroner Rich Ploch previously said the men were apparently relaxing while fishing along the Illinois River on Thursday evening before a “black powder substance” was ignited in a hole.
UpdatedMon, May 10, 2021 at 4:21 pm CT
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Starved Rock State Park is near Utica, Illinois. (Tim Moran/Patch)
UTICA, IL The three men who died after authorities said they ignited a black powder near Starved Rock State Park have been identified by the LaSalle County Coroner s Office.
The bodies of Immer Rivera Tejada, 39, Guillermo Rivera Tejada, 26, and Rafael Rivera Tejada, 36, were discovered last Thursday night near the old Route 178 bridge, according to LaSalle County Coroner Rich Ploch.
While investigators are still looking into the incident, authorities said the explosion appears to have been an accident while the three men were fishing.