Man dies after illegal fireworks mortar explodes in his hands, California city says

Fireworks blasts killed one man and seriously injured another in separate Southern California incidents on the Fourth of July, city officials reported.

A 42-year-old Montebello man died after an illegal fireworks blast in a front yard about 6:30 p.m. Monday, the city said in a news release.

He died after a “high powered, mortar type, aerial firework” exploded in his hands, severely injuring his upper torso, city officials said. He brought the illegal fireworks with him to a holiday gathering.

Police and firefighters found the man unconscious and not breathing in the yard, officials said. He was taken to a hospital, where he died. No one else was injured.

A man in nearby Azusa suffered serious injuries when a firework exploded in his face, but he is expected to survive, police told the station.

He had lacerations to his arms and face along with burns after the 9 p.m. accident, police told KCBS. He was taken to a hospital.

Azusa and Montebello are suburbs of Los Angeles.

This story was originally published July 5, 2022 at 9:58 AM with the headline "Man dies after illegal fireworks mortar explodes in his hands, California city says."