Escambia man finishes Boston marathon, safe after explosions

Published 3:42 pm Monday, April 15, 2013

As officials in Boston work feverishly to determine the origin of two explosions that rocked the finish line of the Boston Marathon this afternoon, Atmore resident Mark Rice, a regular participant in the race, is safe and accounted for.

“I’m okay,” Rice wrote in a text message sent from Boston just after 3 p.m. “Other than being sick that some are hurt,” he continued. “I’m now checking on friends.”

Only moments prior to Rice’s text, officials with the Boston Marathon reported the blasts to be the product of bombs, although law enforcement officials had not yet made that determination.

Rice, the administrator of Atmore Vision Center, finished the race in 3 hours, 12 minutes and 24 seconds. The first explosion is said to have gone off approximately three hours after the first runners crossed the finish line.