Thursday, July 5, 2012
BUCKNER — Authorities in south Arkansas say one teenager is dead and another is recovering from injuries after they taped sparklers together and ignited them, causing an explosion.
Lafayette County Chief Deputy Pete Richardson says the 17-year-old boys bound the sparklers together while celebrating Independence Day. Richardson says the sparklers exploded prematurely as one of the teens put a 5-gallon bucket on top of the fireworks.
Both teenagers were taken to a hospital where Justin Smith of Buckner died. The second teenager remains hospitalized. Authorities did not identify the injured teenager but said he is from Mount Holly.
Lafayette County is under a burn ban, which means fireworks are illegal unless a resident receives written permission to ignite them. Richardson said he didn't know if the teens had permission.
Anonymous MYBUDDYTMIL says...
I have NEVER seen sparklers explode. Wierd.
Posted 5 July 2012, 10:11 a.m. Suggest removal
QUIET US quiet4us2 says...
If the parents were there I blame them. Burn ban said no fireworks. That makes them accountable for their children. Criminal charges should follow.
Posted 5 July 2012, 10:20 a.m. Suggest removal
WILL ARNOLD FreshAir says...
A kid died you idiot. You don't think that's punishment enough? Get a life.
Posted 5 July 2012, 10:47 a.m. Suggest removal
Eric Hairston JEBstuart says...
Ive seen it done and its dangerous they take a whole bunch of sparklers and tape them together with electrical tape,, one sparkler used as a fuse sticks out and it very powerful and dangerous!!! they have been punished enough!!
Posted 5 July 2012, 11:17 a.m. Suggest removal
Anonymous MYBUDDYTMIL says...
I don't think they are supposed to be used that way Jeb. So sad.
Posted 5 July 2012, 12:34 p.m. Suggest removal
JACK KENISON Jjackk says...
There was an article in this paper last week that said that in a county under a burn ban in Arkansas fireworks must be shot by "professionals" according to state law. Maybe in the drought story, I don't remember.
Posted 5 July 2012, 1:13 p.m. Suggest removal
KATHY GRATZON ToTheLeft says...
Fireworks sales should be outlawed. Someone is maimed or killed every year. Leave it to the professionals. There was no reason for this to happen. So sad for everyone.
Posted 5 July 2012, 1:15 p.m. Suggest removal
JACK KENISON Jjackk says...
"unless a permit has been issued by the state Fire Marshal’s Office, the use of fireworks has been prohibited."
Posted 5 July 2012, 1:19 p.m. Suggest removal
Tolicia Colbert freejean says...
Really...the 17 year-old that can sign-up for the service, be charged as a adult-and the parents should be held responsible? Criminal Charges? View this mentality which is prevelent in our socitey just one of the many ideas and actions that have taken us from a qreat country into a bitter, I'll get even, sue-happy, it is always someone elses' fault, gonna make you pay country. Shame on you.
Posted 5 July 2012, 2:01 p.m. Suggest removal
Tolicia Colbert freejean says...
yeah, ban fireworks...just one more right that folks such as yourself do not mind giving over to big-brother. Does it not bother you that we have less freedoms in this country then Russia? I am so sick and tired of the government taking away my rights because they know better then I do.
Posted 5 July 2012, 2:10 p.m. Suggest removal
MS. YARBERRY GottaMakeIt says...
DEIMOCRATREPUBLICAN....Weird is correct spelling...
Posted 5 July 2012, 3:12 p.m. Suggest removal
MIKE JAMES GrecianArkie says...
LOTS of curious kids know more about fireworks than you do. A little explosive wrapped around a stick is cute and probably harmless. 200-300 taped together is a dangerous device. Youtube is full of instructions to make them. Go to Youtube and enter "sparker bomb" and watch the results.
Posted 5 July 2012, 4:32 p.m. Suggest removal
JOHN SMITH Packman says...
Prayers to the families of both boys. Who among us hasn't done something/many somethings pretty dumb as a teenager? Pray for the families - they need it.
Posted 5 July 2012, 4:47 p.m. Suggest removal
JON THOMAS penber says...
This is what happens when you use things in ways they are not designed to be used. The headline is misleading - sparklers do not explode when properly used.
Posted 6 July 2012, 10:33 a.m. Suggest removal
JAMES W. ArmyMedic says...
U can't blame parents everytime a teenager does something. It was an accident. How many people have heard of a sparkler exploding? Seriously??? Condolences out to the families and friends.
Posted 6 July 2012, 9:12 p.m. Suggest removal