2-year-old girl killed by falling temporary walls at Illinois mall
ORLAND PARK, Illinois -- A 2-year-old girl died after two temporary walls fell on her inside the Akira store at a mall in Illinois on Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.
Orland Park Police Chief Tim McCarthy said a grandmother and aunt of five children were in the store on the lower level. The children were playing when somehow two temporary walls fell and struck the girl.
The temporary walls were 8 feet high, 3 feet wide and weighed between 75 to 100 pounds each, McCarthy said.
Paramedics performed medical treatment at the scene, then transported the girl to the hospital where she died from her injuries.
The girl was later identified as Alexandra Martinez.
Video taken by shoppers inside of the mall shows paramedics inside the mall, one carrying a stretcher.
Several people at the shopping center, including a nurse and a doctor who were nearby, attempted to help the child.
It's apparent from police and fire radio communications that several people at the shopping center tried to help.
"We're getting numerous calls about a large metal object falling on a baby at Akira in the mall," one dispatcher said.
"We're still on the phone with a caller," said another dispatcher. "They're advising they're doing CPR on a child. A mirror fell on them."
In a statement, a co-owner of Akira, which is a Chicago-based retailer, said, "We are devastated by this tragic event. We are working to collect all the details."
A spokesperson for the mall also released a statement saying, "Our deepest sympathies go out to the family of the child. Questions regarding this tragic accident should be directed to Akira or to the Orland Park Police Department, which is conducting an investigation and can answer questions."
The investigation into the girl's death continues.
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