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Heat Cuts Chicago Marathon Short; 250 Taken to Hospital

Oct 7, 2007 5:56 pm US/Central

Heat Cuts Marathon Short; 1 Dead And 250 Fall Ill

Complaints of Shortage of Water and Cooling Supplies

CHICAGO, IL: One runner in the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon is confirmed dead and 250 were taken away in ambulances, as record high temperatures forced organizers to bring the race to an early end.

Shortly before noon, runners who had not finished yet were stopped about halfway through the course, at Cermak Road and Halsted Street, and were sent back to the starting area. Those who had passed the halfway point by noon were allowed to continue along the standard course.

The decision was made after the winners were declared. The temperature around 14:30 p.m. was 85 degress with a heat index of 88, only one degree short of tying a record for heat during the race.

The Fire Department transported 250 people from the scene and to local hospitals, Fire Commissioner Raymond Orozco Jr. said. Even more runners sought shelter in cooling or misting shelters, he said. One runner died, the Cook County Medical Examiner's office confirmed...

Read all about it at: CBS2 Chicago: http://cbs2chicago.com/breakingnewsalerts/local_story_280071653.html