ISU student suffers severe burns at barn dance

BLOOMINGTON — An Illinois State University student is hospitalized after falling into a bonfire during a weekend barn dance near Lexington.

Lauren Bucaro was transferred to the burn unit at Loyola University Hospital in Maywood, where her condition was not available late Monday. ISU spokesman Jay Groves told The (Bloomington) Pantagraph the 21-year-old Bucaro was not a member of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority, which threw the Saturday dance.

McLean County Sheriff Mike Emery said Monday he has concerns about events at Pleasant View Farm that include alcohol.

Pleasant View Farm boasts guaranteed privacy, security, domestic farm animals “as an attraction,” bonfires and hayrack rides. Owner Sam Payne said he did not see the incident.

Groves said the university was not notified of the incident until late Monday