WATCH: Fireworks launch into crowd at Stadium of Fire, 6 taken to the hospital
PROVO, Utah (ABC4) — Several injuries were reported at the Stadium of Fire event in Provo after fireworks launched into the crowd on Thursday night.
According to initial reports from officials, six people were taken to the hospital with injuries after the incident.
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Officials with the Provo Police Department told ABC4.com that multiple people were injured and several people had been taken to the hospital. Later reports clarified that six people were taken to the hospital, but officials did not immediately disclose the number of people hurt.
The Stadium of Fire event — an annual Independence Day celebration at Brigham Young University’s LaVell Edwards Stadium — was delayed after several fireworks went into the crowd during the flag ceremony at the beginning of the event, officials said.
Videos posted on social media showed the stray fireworks spiral into the crowd during the jet flyover.
Derek Blodgett, 19, of Utah County, was sitting with about a dozen relatives when one of the stray fireworks flew right over them, hitting a man in the neck two rows behind them.
“He slumped over after he got hit,” Blodgett told ABC4.com.
“We thought that he died on the spot just because of how he acted,” Blodgett said. “That’s when we all started freaking out and called for paramedics.”
Doctors among the crowd immediately rushed to help the man, who appeared to be bleeding from a neck wound. By the time paramedics got to the man, he regained consciousness and was able to walk away, Blodgett said, noting that others around the man were marked by soot and speckles of blood.
Emory Cook, a spokesperson for the Freedom Festival, said in a statement that all pyrotechnics were thoroughly checked before the show and were rechecked after Thursday’s incident.
“Our thoughts are with those who are impacted by the incident and we are following up with them to make sure they are okay,” Cook said.
Statement on fireworks launching into the crowd
After the incident, viewers witnessed a small fire in the stands where the fireworks were launched from, and the fire was later extinguished.
Viewers at the event told ABC4.com that the show was delayed for about 10 to 15 minutes as medical personnel and other officials responded to the scene. The show resumed just before 9 p.m.
Blodgett said that several people left the stands near where the stray fireworks struck. Others left later when the main fireworks show started following the performance by the Jonas Brothers.
“We were one of the crazy few that stuck around after that,” he said. “It was a very small crowd left in our section.”
In a statement, Provo Fire officials said the fireworks malfunction is under investigation. Anyone with video footage of the incident is asked to send it to the Provo City Fire Marshal by emailing firemarshal@provo.org.
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