A 23-year-old man died from fireworks-related injuries during a Fourth of July weekend incident in northwestern Monroe County.
Police say Tyler Pinkley of Bloomington was attempting to ignite a large fireworks mortar when it exploded about 10:30 p.m. July 5 in the 7000 block of West Tabor Hill Road near Stinesville.
Witnesses told police Pinkley had been warned to be careful, a Monroe County Sheriff’s Office news release said.
Pinkley suffered traumatic injuries in the Saturday night tragedy and died at the scene, the news release said.
Deputies interviewed a dozen people at the scene, collected evidence and determined the incident was accidental.
“Witnesses told deputies that Pinkley was trying to light off a large mortar while holding it directly above his head. They said they tried to stop him, but he dismissed his friends, claiming he had done this before,” the news release said.
Contact H-T reporter Laura Lane at llane@heraldt.com or 812-318-5967.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington man trying to ignite fireworks dies in July 4 weekend accident
Reporting by Laura Lane, The Herald-Times / The Herald-Times
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