CHINO, CA — Multiple victims suffered serious injuries, one of them fatal, in a Fourth of July fireworks explosion, officials say. A 28-year-old man was under arrest on pending charges of involuntary manslaughter, as of Monday morning.
On Saturday, at 8:30 p.m., 911 callers reported that a large quantity of fireworks exploded at once on the 5600 block of D Street, severely injuring three people and moderately injuring a fourth. A nearby car also caught fire amid the explosion, Chino Police reported.
"Three adult victims were transported to local hospitals with severe injuries, and a fourth victim, a juvenile, was also transported to the hospital for evaluation," they said.
One of the adult victims, believed to be a woman in her twenties, died as a result of the blast, according to a Monday report. Her identity was withheld by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner, pending notification of next of kin. That office is conducting the death investigation, according to the Press Enterprise.
One man was taken into custody that night and temporarily held by Chino Police. He was released on Monday into his own custody, according to jail records. No court date was assigned, and it was not immediately known if involuntary manslaughter charges would be filed.
The Chino Police Department is leading the investigation and has established a unified command with the Chino Valley Fire District. During the incident, the Ontario Bomb Squad responded to assist.
"The incident remains under investigation," Chino Police said. Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Gregory at (909) 334-3136.
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