5-year-old burned by hot oil fryer

A 5-year-old Wheeling boy was badly burned after knocking over a hot oil fryer while riding his bicycle around the house Sunday.

Wheeling fire officials responded to the 500 block of East Merle Lane about 1 p.m., Wheeling Fire Department Lt. Bart Burns said.

As the boy was riding his bicycle in the driveway, he accidentally crashed into the turkey fryer and knocked it over on himself, burning about half of his body, he said.

An emergency helicopter took the boy to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood for the severe burns that covered the boy's torso, shoulders and down to his feet, Burns said.

Both parents suffered burns to their hands after trying to help their son. They refused treatment because they just wanted to get to the hospital to see their son, he said.