Pinellas Man Injured When Boxes Of Sparklers Explode

SEMINOLE, FL — A 36-year-old man received extensive burns on New Year's Eve after sparklers blew up in his hand.

At 8:22 p.m. Dec. 31, Pinellas County Sheriff's deputies responded to a call about an injured person in the 8600 block of Kumquat Avenue in Seminole. When they arrived, Wayne DeSmith was being transported to a local hospital with severe injuries to his right hand.

Detectives said DeSmith bundled four boxes of sparklers and wrapped the flammable ends together with black electrical tape. One sparkler projected out of the bundle, serving as a fuse.
Detectives say the wrapping of the bundle turned the sparklers into a large firecracker.

The sparklers exploded before DeSmith had an opportunity to throw the bundle a safe distance away.