Illegal fireworks misfire, kill 8-year-old girl in California

(KTLA) - Police confirmed Saturday that an 8-year-old girl died after she was struck by an illegal fireworks display on the 4th of July in Orange County.

It was around 9:45 p.m., according to the Buena Park Police Department, when officers patrolling the area of the 8000 block of Cornflower Circle saw family members frantically carrying a child into a nearby home.

BPPD noted the officers were already in this neighborhood after “seeing a large quantity of fireworks detonate in the area.”

Upon seeing the family rushing the young girl inside, officers ran over to offer help and began administering life-saving efforts before the child was transported to the University of California, Irvine hospital.

The 8-year-old girl was tragically declared dead at the hospital. Her identity is being withheld out of respect for her family.

BPPD’s initial investigation revealed that a nearby homeowner set off a “large illegal fireworks display” on their street, which, after ignition, began misfiring toward the residence where the girl was at the time.

“This caused other illegal fireworks to ignite, which were near the child and others,” BPPD stated in a release. “At some point, the child had been struck, causing fatal injuries. Several other individuals were present, but no significant injuries were reported.”

Police said the homeowner who ignited the illegal fireworks was subsequently arrested, and charges are pending review from the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. Their name was not immediately released.

The police department said it is continuing to investigate this incident with the Orange County Fire Authority and the Orange County Sheriff’s Bomb Squad.