Walled Lake man killed by firework in front of family

A 47-year-old man died Sunday evening in Walled Lake when a large mortar fireworks shell he was holding to his head exploded, police said.

Walled Lake Police Chief Paul Shakinas said the man's family was devastated as it happened in front of them at about 9:14 p.m. Sunday at a home on the 1500 block of Quinif Drive. Alcohol was a factor, Shakinas added.

The Oakland County Medical Examiner's Office found the death to be accidental, caused by blunt-force trauma to the head.

The fireworks were part of a gathering a week ahead of Fourth of July weekend. It's illegal to set them off outside of the day before, during or after the holiday, but Shakinas said no citations were issued in connection with the tragedy.

"We ask everyone to use caution and remember that alcohol and fireworks do not mix," Shakinas said, adding that police will be enforcing fireworks violations approaching the holiday.

The incident was in a residential neighborhood northwest of Detroit.

Last year, a Detroit man was killed when an errant firework blew into his chest and exploded. Mike Aburouman, 44, had picked up a firework and lit it July 4, 2014. But instead of shooting into the air, it flew right at him.

Also last July 4, WXYZ chief meteorologist Dave Rexroth lost an eyeball to a fireworks explosion while celebrating the holiday with his family in Iowa.

Contact Robert Allen at rallen@freepress.com or @rallenMI.