Wilmington In Disbelief After Another Drowning At Dam

WILMINGTON, IL - An inflatable raft remains entangled at the bottom of the Wilmington Dam, a grim reminder of Saturday's tragedy that claimed the life of another Illinois resident. On Monday, some life-long Wilmington residents visiting Island Park were in disbelief that yet another life was lost at the dangerous dam along the Kankakee River. There are multiple billboards along the shoreline with large letters proclaiming "DANGER" in both English and Spanish.

Bob Feazeo and his friend Chuck Vedder spoke with Joliet Patch along the gravel road near the dam. They have a strong message for people out to enjoy the ambiance of the Kankakee River. "People that drown here are not local people," Feazeo said. "It's not a surprise. This latest person (who died Saturday) was apparently out enjoying the day. People have to understand this river. Don't come out here when the water is high. People don't understand that this current here is fast. Stay away from the water when it's like that. Use your intelligence when the river is this high. Stay out."

The Wilmington Dam's latest victim was 35-year-old Elizabeth Larson of Normal, IL. Larson, along with a 6-year-old child, were both riding down the Kankakee River on Saturday afternoon. They, along with their inflatable raft, were both sent over Wilmington's Dam.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources spokesman Ed Cross told Patch on Monday that the child was rescued, but the woman was pulled underneath the water. "Once ejected, she became trapped in the boil of the dam," he said. Cross said he did not know the relationship between Larson and the child, nor whether the two were part of a larger group of people.

Cross urged anyone with information surrounding the drowning incident on the Kankakee River to call one of the local conservation officers: Nicholas Reid, at 815-531-9427 or Nicholas Honiotes, at 815-409-5082.

"If anybody seen or heard anything, we would definitely appreciate them coming forward," Cross told Patch.

The pair of Wilmington locals who spoke with Patch said it was their understanding that the child who was rescued had been able to grab hold of the large log at the bottom of the dam. Larson's body, they said, turned up farther downstream.

Last October, a Chicago law firm filed a civil lawsuit against the city of Wilmington on behalf of the two Joliet children, 12-year-old Eder Arroyo and his 13-year-old sister, Abigail, who drowned here on Memorial Day weekend in 2016. To read the Patch story about that lawsuit, go here.

On Monday, that law firm, Lucas & Cardenas, posted a message on its Facebook page. "Another tragic and unnecessary loss of life occurs at the Wilmington Dam. Lucas & Cardenas P.C. is currently representing the family of two children who tragically lost their lives at the Wilmington Dam last year. Our deepest condolences to all of the families who have lost a loved one at the Wilmington Dam."

Bob Feazeo and Chuck Vedder, the two long-time Wilmington residents, vehemently disagree that their city government should be held financially liable for any of these drownings, including the deaths of the two Joliet children from 15 months ago.

"It's terrible, it's horrible," Feazeo said. "We don't want nobody to drown. But I don't think that it is fair to the people of Wilmington. I don't know what (the city) can do."

Vedder opposes removing the dam altogether. He noted that the dam has done a great job of serving several communities over the span of several decades.

"I'm not sure what the solution to all the drowning is," Vedder said. "But I will say I have lived on the river about all my life ... The problem is people from out of town don't realize how dangerous the dam is. Even experienced fishermen don't even get close. It's very posted (with danger signs).

"In my opinion, the city and DNR should ticket anyone that is playing in the water anywhere close to the dam. Maybe that would detour some from coming down for the weekend. I can't think of any local person knowing the dam that has ever drowned."

Images via Joliet Patch Editor John Ferak