From WMAQ/NBC5 Chicago:At Least 17 Crushed To Death In South Side Club Disturbance
At Least 19 People Hospitalized, In Critical Condition
POSTED: 5:01 a.m. CST February 17, 2003
UPDATED: 6:31 a.m. CST February 17, 2003
CHICAGO -- At least 17 people are confirmed dead, so far, after patrons of a south side night club became crushed while trying to exit through a single door. NBC5 reported the number of fatalities could go up to 21. In all, 65 people were transported to 11 hospitals.
The incident occurred at the E-2 nightclub and Epitome restaurant, at 2347 S. Michigan Ave, around 3:30 a.m. Monday. NBC5's Kim Vatis reported from the scene that some of the bodies were still inside the club shortly after 6 a.m.
Witnesses told Vatis that security guards responded to a minor fight between two women inside the club by spraying Mace or pepper spray, and the spray triggered a mass exodus.
The front and back doors of the club were chained shut, and patrons rushed for the stairs, crushing people to death.
Kristy Mitchell told Vatis she was one of the people trapped in the stairwell. She said she escaped serious injury but at times could not breathe in the crowd.