A 19-year-old man working for the fireworks company staging a July Fourth celebration in Quakertown was killed by an explosion at the beginning of the grand finale of the event, said local police.
One of the pyrotechnics misfired at about 9:45 p.m. Saturday at Quakertown's Memorial Park. Debris struck a 19-year-old man from Western Pennsylvania in the neck and chest, Quakertown Police Corporal Scott Fogel said.
The victim was identified as David Walker of West Middlesex, Pa., according to the Bucks County Coroner's Office.
He worked for Zambelli Fireworks out of the New Castle, Pa., according to the Pittsburgh News Channel.
Firefighters gave the man first aid, but he was pronounced dead at St. Luke's Hospital-Quakertown.
Authorities immediately stopped the show and evacuated part of the park, Police Chief Scott McElree said. About 10,000 people were at the event, according to police.
County and state police fire marshals were investigating the accident.
