A woman in her twenties has died and four other people, including a child, were hurt when a large quantity of illegal fireworks exploded inside a vehicle during a Fourth of July gathering in Chino.
Police in Chino, California are investigating after a large quantity of illegal fireworks exploded inside a vehicle during a Fourth of July gathering, leaving a woman in her twenties dead and four other people, including a child, injured.
One relative, Nardio Del Rosario, said the injured included his own grandchildren. Speaking to KTLA, he explained that the family had been holding a party and that he was “sure they were popping off fireworks”, though he added that what happened after that remained unclear to him.
Gabriel Gilmore was at his mother’s house when the explosion occurred. Stepping outside afterwards, he told ABC7, it “looked like there was a bunch of illegal fireworks in the trunk” of a car, though he said he could not say for certain how they had ignited. Several other witnesses described a scene of disorder as people ran from the area in the moments after the blast.
Officers were sent to the scene of a reported vehicle fire in Chino at around 8.30pm on Saturday. On arrival, they found several people with serious injuries and a car engulfed in flames. Detectives believe “a large quantity of fireworks ignited, causing the explosion.”
Three adults and a juvenile were taken to local hospitals. One of the adults – a woman in her twenties whose name has not been released – later died from her injuries, while the other two adults are expected to survive. The juvenile has since been discharged into the care of a parent or guardian.
A 28-year-old Hesperia man, Derion Tradon James Jr, has been arrested in connection with the explosion. He faces suspicion of involuntary manslaughter and was booked into the West Valley Detention Center, where his bail has been set at $50,000; KTLA reports that he is due before a judge for the first time on Thursday. Precisely what role he is alleged to have played has not been disclosed by investigators.
According to the Victor Valley News Group, police and fire crews stayed at the site into Sunday, checking for any leftover fireworks, debris or other hazards before declaring it safe. The inquiry is being run jointly by Chino Police and the Chino Valley Fire District, and detectives are appealing for anyone with relevant information to get in touch with Detective Gregory on (909) 334-3136.
California is one of many US states where such fireworks are illegal, reflecting the fire, explosion and injury risks they pose. Nationally, thousands of people are treated in emergency rooms for fireworks-related injuries each year, a figure that tends to spike over the Independence Day period.
