Northeast

Young boy killed after bounce house goes airborne at Maryland baseball game

Published

2 years ago

August 5, 2024

Press Room

Young boy killed after bounce house goes airborne at Maryland baseball game

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A young child was killed, and several other children were injured during a baseball game Friday night in Waldorf, Maryland, when a gust of wind caused a bounce house to go airborne while they were inside playing.

It happened during a Southern Maryland Blue Crabs game. First responders were immediately dispatched to the stadium after the incident, Charles County officials said in a press release.

The wind caused the bounce house to be carried about 15 to 20 feet up in the air, causing children to fall before it landed on the playing field, officials said.

One of the children, identified by several members of his community as Declan Hicks, 5, of La Plata, was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

2-YEAR-OLD DEAD IN ARIZONA AFTER BOUNCE HOUSE WAS SWEPT AWAY BY WIND

Young boy killed after bounce house is swept 15 to 20 feet in the air by gust of wind. (Marie Ragano /TMX)

“We extend our deepest empathy to the children and their families during this difficult time,” stated Charles County Government Commissioner President Reuben B. Collins II. “We thank our EMS team and the Maryland State Police for their swift actions to ensure the children received immediate care.”

Courtney Knichel, General Manager of the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs also issued a statement saying that “our entire organization shares our condolences with the family mourning the loss of a child, and concern for the child who was injured. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all.”

NEW JERSEY GIRL, 6, DIES IN TRAGIC BADMINTON ACCIDENT 4 WEEKS AFTER ASKING ‘HOW TO BE WITH GOD AND BE SAVED’

Declan Hicks, 5, was identified as the child killed in the tragic accident. (Marie Ragano /TMX)

Knichel said the team had decided to cancel Saturday’s baseball game and all baseball activities for Saturday August 3, and are also offering counseling and support to families, players, and fans who attended the game.

The South Potomac Church also acknowledged the passing of Hicks, saying that his grandparents are members of the church.

“As some of you may already know, Elder Bill and Kathleen Young’s grandson, Declan, passed away from a very tragic accident at the Blue Crabs stadium on Friday Night. We are heartbroken,” the church said in a statement on Facebook. “Please pray for the Young Family and all of our SPC family. When one grieves, we all grieve.”

The church added that they are partnering with Dr. Benjamin Keyes of The Center for Trauma & Resiliency and his team of crisis counselors on Monday, August 5, at 7 p.m. at the Regency Furniture Stadium, home of the Blue Crabs, to help anyone in need of support through this tragedy.

WIFE OF RODEO STAR SPENCER WRIGHT SHARES TRAGIC UPDATE ON THREE-YEAR-OLD SON LEVI AFTER RIVER ACCIDENT

The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs canceled their games for the weekend after a child was killed when a bounce house went airborne Friday night. (Marie Ragano /TMX)

The La Plata Blue Knights Football and Cheerleading organization also shared the news of Hicks tragic death, offering their condolences and dedicating their upcoming season to Hicks.

“The LaPlata Blue Knights Football and Cheerleading Organization would like to take this time to mourn the loss of #9 Declan Hicks, a member of our flag football team, who was taken far to soon as a result of Friday’s incident at Blue Crabs Stadium,” the statement read. “We offer our sincerest condolences to his parents, family, friends, coaches and teammates.”

FAMILY OF 7-YEAR-OLD GIRL KILLED IN SAND ACCIDENT ON FLORIDA BEACH DETAILS MOMENT HOLE COLLAPSED

A child was killed and several injured after a gust of air sent a bounce house up to 20 feet in the air with children still inside it. (Marie Ragano /TMX)

The organization added that all flag football players and cheerleaders will wear a patch and all tackle football players will have Hick’s number on their helmets this season in memory of him.

“Always in our hearts and forever a Blue Knight, rest in honor Declan,” the organization said.

This is not the first fatal accident reported this year involving children and bounce houses.

Back in May, a 2-year-old child was killed and another injured when a bounce house was swept up by wind in Casa Grande, Arizona.

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Massachusetts

Body camera video shows Massachusetts police officer save 78-year-old man from burning truck – East Idaho News

Published

5 minutes ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Body camera video shows Massachusetts police officer save 78-year-old man from burning truck – East Idaho News

EASTON, Mass. (WBZ) — Police body camera video shows an Easton, Massachusetts, officer rescuing a 78-year-old Raynham man from a burning car on Friday morning.

A Mack dump truck was experiencing problems on the side of Turnpike Street just after 2 a.m. when a Ford pickup truck struck the back of it, according to police.

The pickup truck then became stuck under the dump truck, trapping the driver, Francis Leverone, inside. A Toyota Camry then hit the back of the pickup truck and caught fire, police said.

Easton police officer Dean Soucie arrived at the crash and saw that the two vehicles were on fire. Video shows Soucie rushing over before breaking the driver’s side window and then, with the help of the two witnesses, freeing Leverone from the pickup truck. Soucie said he was confused but conscious.

“As I reached inside the vehicle, one of the passersby — he actually jumped into the cab of the truck, and he helped me free the individual,” Soucie said.

They then carried the driver to safety.

Leverone was taken to a nearby hospital before being transferred to a Boston hospital. He received serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

No one else was injured in the crash.

Dee Leverone told WBZ her husband is doing OK. “I’m just thankful for the people that got him out,” she said. “Very thankful.”

After watching the police body-cam video on the news she said, “I was shocked, I was like ‘Oh my God!’ I just couldn’t believe it. His truck is like melted.”

She says she realized that something was wrong last night when her husband never made it home from work.

“I kept trying to call him and call him, and I finally got a hold of him at like 4:30 a.m., and he was at (Good Samaritan Hospital) and he told me he’s gotten in an accident,” Dee said.

She says he’s recovering at the Boston Medical Center and being treated for a dislocated hip.

“He’s a trooper,” Dee said. “He’s a strong man — and you know he’s 78, but you know he’s a toughie. He definitely is a toughie.”

Soucie commended the help of the two witnesses and said that before he arrived at the crash, they had attempted to put out the flames with a fire extinguisher and removed a gasoline tank from the pickup truck before it could ignite.

“They jumped into action like it was nothing,” Soucie said. “Those two individuals were absolutely awesome.”

Easton Police Chief Keith Boone said that he is “extremely proud” of Soucie and the witnesses.

“He saved a life last night,” Chief Boone said. “He is an exemplary police officer and this is just one example. I think he’s a hero.”

Turnpike Street was closed for several hours following the crash. Easton Police are investigating.