Police are investigating after a man said a mortar firework was launched into his car Sunday night in Bargersville, injuring him.
Bargersville firefighters responded to a report of a car fire with injury at State Road 135 and Smokey Row Road around 10 p.m. Sunday. When they arrived, they found an injured male driver, said Mike Pruitt, deputy fire chief.
The driver told first responders that he was traveling through the intersection when what is believed to be a mortar firework round was launched into his vehicle. It exploded near his legs, causing injury, and he was transported to a nearby hospital in stable condition, Pruitt said.
“It was an errant firework from somewhere,” Pruitt said.
The Bargersville Police Department is investigating the incident, which has been turned over to the agency’s investigations division. At this point, there is no preliminary evidence showing the incident was intentional, said Officer Clint Brown, a department spokesperson.
Responding officers checked the area Sunday night, but were unable to find any evidence of anyone setting off fireworks, Brown said.
If anyone has any information on where the fireworks came from, they are asked to contact Bargersville Police at 317-422-1222, or to call Johnson County dispatch after hours at 317-346-6336.
In light of the incident, Pruitt is reminding the public to be responsible with fireworks. People should make sure to only use them in the manner they are approved for and to set them off in proper places, he said.
People should also make sure to never point fireworks at another person, Pruitt said.
“We see these incidents occur a lot of times because (people) don’t do a good job preparing for fireworks,” he said. “Whatever the story is behind this mortar round going into this car, it’s a stark reminder that they can cause serious injury and death if used improperly.”
The public should keep some awareness of the safety risks while using fireworks over the next few days, Pruitt said.
For more fireworks safety tips see the story titled “Playing with fire: Firework experts call for safety and responsibility,” which ran in the June 24th issue of the Daily Journal.
