Illinois — Two young girls were playing at Rothem Church in the suburbs of Chicago when a snow fort collapsed on the two of them. Arlington Heights Police were called in on the scene when parents noticed that the girls were trapped.
When the girls hadn’t returned about an hour later, the parents went outside and found the collapsed fort, and immediately called for help. According to police, the fort collapsed on both girls. Police reported that the one of the girls, just 12 years-old, was pronounced dead on the scene. It has not been reported how long the girls were trapped before authorities were called.
The father of the girl who was pronounced dead is the pastor of Rothem Church. The 9-year-old girl is being treated for hypothermia at the hospital and is expected to pull through.
The 12-year-old girl was in cardiac arrest when she was taken to a hospital. She was pronounced dead a short time later.
The girl has been identified to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office as Esther Jung of Elk Grove Village.
Esther died of asphyxia and hypothermia due to entrapment in a snowbank, according to the medical examiner’s office.
Funeral details are still being determined as the victim’s family has time to grieve.
I’m sure that this was in the back of everyone’s mind that this could happen, but now that we are aware we should take precautions. One tip for parents is to take kids sledding instead of playing in snow banks because it can be overly dangerous. Make sure that every location you go to is a safe location to avoid dangerous outcomes. Check on your kids constantly when playing in the snow. It would be better if you went in groups as well to have more eyes on your kids. Take everything into consideration when going out sledding or to snowbanks.