45-year-old man dead after being hit in head by 'mortar style' firework

REDMOND, Wash. (KOMO) — Witnesses say a 45-year-old man was lighting "mortar style fireworks" in a Washington state parking lot when one hit him in the back of his head and killed him early Friday morning.

According to Redmond police, the incident occurred around 2:30 a.m. on the 11500 block of Avondale Road. When officers arrived, they found the man "unconscious and not breathing laying on the ground." Officers said they performed CPR until Redmond fire arrived, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Witnesses told officers the Bothell man was hit by one of the fireworks, according to Redmond police. Police said detectives responded to rule out anything intentional or malicious.

"The preliminary investigation determined the victim died from an accidental explosion from the fireworks," Redmond police said. "There were no other injuries or damage reported at the scene."

The sale and discharge of fireworks are prohibited in Redmond.

Harborview Medical Center in Seattle said that as of 10:43 a.m. Friday it had about "50 related fireworks injuries" from the Fourth of July.