12-year-old seriously injured in Middletown fireworks accident
Authorities say the boy was flown by medical helicopter to receive a higher level of care. His current condition has not been released.
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A 12-year-old boy was seriously hurt in Middletown Tuesday evening after a firework exploded in his hand, according to authorities.
Emergency crews responded around 5 p.m. to the area of Ashley and Emma avenues, where the Orange County Office of Emergency Management says the child was injured during an incident involving a lit firework.
Authorities say the boy was flown by medical helicopter to receive a higher level of care. His current condition has not been released.
According to the boy’s mother, he was fixing his brother’s bike when someone threw the firework nearby. She says he instinctively tried to catch it to protect himself and his brother, and it exploded in his hand
News 12 was at the scene and spoke with a neighbor who witnessed the aftermath.
“I see two women running and then I came out. There are kids lighting fireworks here nonstop,” said Matthew Ortiz.
Ortiz says he heard a loud explosion followed by screaming and watched as the child was placed on a stretcher and airlifted from the neighborhood.
“I saw the stretcher they put him in. It’s unfortunate that happened,” he said. “A lot of kids nowadays get ahold of these TNT sticks basically—and boom. They don’t realize it’s dangerous.”
The incident is under investigation.
