Exploding fireworks kill 43-year-old woman and injure nine others, Michigan cops say

A woman was killed and nine others were injured following a pre-Fourth of July fireworks mishap, Michigan reports say.

The fireworks explosion happened at about 11 p.m. Monday, July 3, outside a home in Park Township, the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office told WOOD.

First responders found a 43-year-old woman unresponsive, WDIV reported. They tried to revive her, but she was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the station.

The woman, from Holland, Michigan, has not been publicly identified. Her death is reportedly being ruled as accidental.

Deputies said nine other people were injured, the Detroit Free Press reported. Their injuries range from minor to critical.

Authorities did not say what type of firework was involved in the explosion.

The blast also damaged nearby homes and vehicles, according to WXMI.

In 2022, there were 11 deaths in the United States involving fireworks, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said. Fireworks injured more than 10,000 people, according to the commission.

“Fireworks are beautiful to watch, but they can be deadly when mishandled or misused, or if the fireworks themselves contain illegal components,” commission Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric said. “I urge everyone to use care around fireworks, only use fireworks labeled for consumer use, and always keep children far away from fireworks, including sparklers.”

Park Township is about 35 miles southwest of Grand Rapids.

This story was originally published July 4, 2023 at 11:47 AM with the headline "Exploding fireworks kill 43-year-old woman and injure nine others, Michigan cops say."