Investigators determined that Spagnuolo was setting off fireworks at the beach when one exploded in his face, causing traumatic injuries
A 70-year-old man, Robert Spagnuolo of Wareham, Massachusetts, died after a firework exploded in his face during a Fourth of July celebration.
The incident occurred around 9:19 p.m. on Thursday at a beach in Wareham, according to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office. A 911 call reported a person had been struck by a firework. Emergency responders arrived at the scene, where Spagnuolo was pronounced dead.
“After interviewing several witnesses on scene, investigators determined that Spagnuolo was setting off fireworks at the beach when one exploded in his face, causing traumatic injuries,” the DA’s Office said in a statement.
The Massachusetts State Police, Wareham Police, the State Police Bomb Squad, and the state Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the official cause of death.
Spagnuolo’s death is one of several firework-related incidents reported during the holiday. In Alabama, six people were hospitalized after a fireworks platform on a modified pontoon boat exploded on Lake Martin.