Former Powell resident escapes injury in Boston Marathon explosions

Posted 4/16/13

“I had crossed the finish line at about 2:10,” Bailey said during a phone interview later Monday afternoon. “I had some issues with my hip ... so they took me to the medic tent.”

She was lying on a cot in the tent when she heard the …

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Former Powell resident escapes injury in Boston Marathon explosions

Posted

Runner Hannah (Johnson) Bailey, formerly of Powell and now living in Denver, was a block away from the Boston Marathon finish line Monday when two explosions went off at 2:57 p.m. local time.

“I had crossed the finish line at about 2:10,” Bailey said during a phone interview later Monday afternoon. “I had some issues with my hip ... so they took me to the medic tent.”

She was lying on a cot in the tent when she heard the explosions. A few moments later, police came to the tent and said that anyone who was able to walk needed to leave, she said.

“I was able to walk, so I did,” she said. “I heard someone say explosion; that’s when I knew it was bad.”

But it was some time before she could get to the check bag with her cell phone and other personal things. As soon as she got it, she called to make sure her husband, Nick Bailey, and a friend were safe as well.

“Nick picked up right away,” she said. “It was extremely frightening for the duration that I did not know where they were, and they did not know where I was.”

With a rush of relief at finding each other safe, the Baileys made their way the two blocks to their hotel. As of 6:45 p.m. Eastern time, they were in the hotel, and it was under lock down.

“It was pretty chaotic everywhere. It was definitely frightening,” Hannah Bailey said. “Not exactly the way you want to finish a marathon.”

Janice Bailey of Powell got reassurance of her son and daughter-in-law's safety before she knew about the danger.

She had been tracking her daughter-in-law's progress on the Internet, but turned off her computer when Hannah crossed the finish line — and just before the real drama began.

“My son texted me and said, ‘We’re OK. Hannah was one block away from the explosions, and I was two (blocks away),” Janice recounted of the text message from Nick.

That was the first Janice knew about the explosions, she said, and it was alarming to know that her son and daughter-in-law had been so close to danger. Soon, other people were texting her to find out if Hannah was OK, she said.

As Janice Bailey viewed ongoing news broadcasts about the explosions, “it was a huge relief” to know Hannah and Nick were safe, she said.

Hannah Bailey is the daughter of Phil and Pamela Johnson of Powell.

Former Yellowstone National Park employees Steve Glaser and Sonja Brester also ran in Monday's Boston Marathon and are believed to have also escaped injury.

"We have heard they are OK," said Yellowstone park spokesman Al Nash.

The Boston Globe reported Monday evening that two people were killed and at least 125 injured in the blasts.

As of press time Monday, it was unclear who was responsible for the explosions. In a statement Monday, President Barack Obama urged a nervous nation to avoid jumping to conclusions, while acknowledging that officials "still do not know who did this or why."

"We will find out who did this. We'll find out why they did this," Obama said. "Any responsible individuals, any responsible groups, will feel the full weight of justice."

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