Bloomfield Hills Family Separated, Reunited Safely After Boston Marathon Blasts

There were only 13 Bloomfield-area residents registered to participate in Monday's Boston Marathon, but that doesn't account for the many more family members and friends that went to witness their loved ones complete the daunting athletic achievement first-hand.

Royce Benjamin, of Bloomfield Hills, was among them, and recounted his harrowing experience as the celebratory experience turned tragic when two bombs exploded near the finish line Monday afternoon, with Channel 4.

"We were waiting for him but we had missed him," Benjamin told the television station by telephone. "We started to go towards the finish line, we were only about 150 feet from it to begin with, I was looking up into the stands for my daughter-in-law and at that moment the explosion occurred in the back of me."

Benjamin said he immediately turned around and saw debris flying and injured people all around the street by the grandstand.

"We started to walk away in the other direction from the explosion and it turns out we were walking right towards the second explosion."

Though separated in the mayhem, Benjamin said his family stayed in contact by texting on their cell phones and reunited safely at their prepared meeting spot in a downtown Boston hotel. They and son Chris were all safe.

Not everyone was as fortunate. Authorities confirmed Tuesday morning that three people were killed and 176 injured in the blasts.

Several victims, including an 8-year-old boy who died, were children. The boy, Martin Richard of Dorchester, was reportedly at the race to watch his father, Bill, run the marathon. His mother and sister were also reportedly injured in the explosions.

The area around Copley Square will remain locked down Tuesday as law enforcement officials continue their search for who is responsible.

Check back with Patch for further updates.