20 Craziest 4th of July Accidents Ever

Navi Moviez

Watch 20 Craziest 4th of July Accidents Ever - Navi Moviez on Dailymotion

Transcript

00:00"...a rogue firework forces everybody to run for their lives."

00:05Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're looking at reported cases of 4th of July celebrations

00:11or preparations that went horribly wrong.

00:13"...another neighbor was setting off illegal fireworks before the blaze took off."

00:19The beginning of a stay-safe campaign.

00:21When handling fireworks, a person's life can change in a literal flash.

00:25In 2017, Aiden Valdez was at a neighborhood block party for the 4th.

00:30One second, the Colorado teenager had a firework in his right hand.

00:34The next, there was a bright spark, and Valdez's ears were ringing.

00:37"...next thing I knew, it blows up, and my ears are ringing, and then everything's white."

00:45Finding his bearings, Valdez realized his ears weren't the worst of his worries.

00:50Valdez lost four fingers on his left hand, as well as his left eye.

00:54He required four surgeries, but Valdez hasn't allowed this loss to hold him back.

00:59Valdez continued to pursue his passion for wrestling, competing in national tournaments.

01:03He became an advocate for firework safety, giving away 1,500 safety glasses.

01:09Valdez also created a coloring book full of safety tips.

01:12"...and I just want to spread the word so it doesn't happen to any other kids."

01:16National Mall Firework Frenzy.

01:18Thousands of fireworks will light the D.C. skies during what's expected to be a breathtaking event.

01:24It doesn't get more patriotic than fireworks in Washington, D.C., but the National Mall

01:29became a war zone in 1987.

01:32Kathy Eldreth was about 60 yards from the fenced-off safety zone when a flame landed

01:37on her blanket.

01:38Putting it out, Eldreth was struck in the back by a fireball the size of a softball.

01:43Eldreth was then helicoptered to the hospital, where she was treated for third-degree burns.

01:47She was one of four in the area who were hospitalized for similar injuries, while 25 more were taken

01:52to the Red Cross.

01:54Moisture in the air likely contributed to these unforeseen accidents.

01:58Over a decade later, there were still reports of children, quote, "...chasing the charred

02:02bits of firework paper that fell in a rain of ash."

02:05And says you'll see the skies rain in gold willows before the rapid-fire grand finale.

02:11A spark goes out too soon.

02:13Fire departments say without a permit, there's still too many dangers.

02:18Before even turning 21, Austin McLeod was married with a son and stepson.

02:23Only a few months after tying the knot with his new wife, McLeod was gearing up for their

02:27Independence Day festivities in the backyard.

02:29Tragically, this was the last holiday the young husband and father would celebrate with

02:33his family.

02:34McLeod planned a fireworks display for their cookout when the explosives unexpectedly went

02:39off, striking him in the head and neck.

02:41The multi-shelled launcher is believed to have malfunctioned.

02:45When McLeod went to check it, his fate was sealed.

02:48An ambulance arrived on the scene, but by the time McLeod arrived at the hospital, he

02:51was gone.

02:52The brightest little light.

02:54The community of Kaysville is in shock following a very serious incident that canceled Fourth

02:59of July events for the city.

03:01From a young age, Marcy Hill was known for spreading cheer, becoming a proud member of

03:06the Patriot Cheer All-Stars in Utah.

03:09As her GoFundMe campaign would state, Marcy passed away doing what she loved, being with

03:14her team.

03:15Hill was reportedly on a float performing with her team during the Kaysville Fourth

03:19of July parade.

03:20While trying to get candy from a trailer, she was pulled under the tires.

03:24Hill was taken to the hospital in critical condition, sadly never recovering.

03:28An investigation found no wrongdoing on behalf of the vehicle's driver or the parade organizers,

03:34but new safety measures were implemented going forward.

03:37Leaving behind her parents and three older brothers, Hill is remembered as quote,

03:41the brightest little light.

03:42I was heartbroken.

03:43I thought it was really just, it was tragic and it was really sad.

03:48Anarchy on 6th Street Bridge.

03:50Now attend scenes of Independence Day chaos on LA's 6th Street Bridge as the celebrating

03:57gets out of control in dangerous ways.

03:59For some, it isn't Fourth of July without illegal fireworks.

04:03But how far is too far?

04:04Wherever the line is, it was definitely crossed in 2023 when a group turned LA's 6th Street

04:09Bridge into the Wild West.

04:12Chaos and carelessness as revelers shot off illegal fireworks, climbed the viaduct's arches,

04:18and sped on the wrong side of the road.

04:21People set off fireworks across the bridge, with one civilian packing what looked like

04:25a homemade rocket launcher.

04:27The chaos didn't end there.

04:29The mob was seen climbing the viaduct's arches while cars drove on the wrong side of the

04:34road.

04:35While many were endangered, there were no reported injuries.

04:38On any other night, this might have attracted the full force of the local authorities.

04:42Being July 4th, though, fires were put out all over LA, making it easier for the bridge

04:47blowout to escalate.

04:49Instant ignition.

04:50What started as a day of celebration.

04:53Everybody's probably having grill outs, families come together.

04:57Quickly turned into a nightmare.

04:59Not all fireworks are the same.

05:01Some are designed to be ignited manually, allowing a person enough time to reach a safe

05:05distance after lighting the fuse.

05:08This is not the kind that came into Brian Simpson's possession.

05:11The 48-year-old Kentucky man got his hands on a commercial-grade firework that was meant

05:16to be set off electronically.

05:18Whether or not Simpson knew this, he made the ill-advised decision to detonate it with

05:22a homemade mortar tube, cutting the wick in half.

05:26Without delay, the firework exploded right in front of Simpson, the injuries proving

05:30fatal.

05:31There's a lot that Simpson could have done differently, but if there's one takeaway

05:35from this cautionary tale, it's to always check the instructions.

05:39Florence Mann is dead after trying to light off a commercial-grade firework in his driveway

05:44at a 4th of July gathering.

05:46Truck explosion.

05:47Blackburn Warner was a junior firefighter that day, just 15 years old, when 680 pounds

05:53of fireworks were accidentally set off inside a truck 30 yards away from him.

05:58You're all familiar with the phrase, the show must go on?

06:02This was easier said than done for Ocracoke Island in 2009.

06:06The community was getting ready for their annual 4th of July fireworks display.

06:10Around 9 a.m., though, the truck carrying the fireworks blew up, claiming the lives

06:15of four workers inside.

06:17A fifth person in the back of the truck managed to escape, albeit with burns on his face and

06:21hands.

06:22Needless to say, there wasn't a fireworks show that night, or the following year, or

06:27the year after that.

06:28Seven years passed until fireworks returned to Ocracoke.

06:32With new laws helping to prevent another tragedy, the island decided to bring back this tradition

06:36in hopes of boosting tourism.

06:38Horn Hope's this year's show will pave the way for future celebrations and help restore

06:42a tradition on the island.

06:44Salute cannon.

06:45Now, this incident happened sometime after 11 p.m. yesterday near the corner of Main

06:50and 160th Street here in Park Township.

06:53Technically, this incident occurred in the late hours of July 3rd, 2023, but those involved

06:58were clearly getting into the 4th of July spirit.

07:01By midnight, the celebration had burst into a disaster.

07:04When authorities arrived at the Park Township neighborhood, houses and cars were damaged,

07:09with fireworks present.

07:10Nine people were injured, and a woman named Janet Daniels lost her life.

07:15Upon further inspection, the authorities realized that commercial fireworks weren't responsible.

07:20An inebriated Anthony John Meyer had lit a salute cannon full of gunpowder.

07:24The explosion damaged several nearby homes and cars.

07:28The cause is still under investigation.

07:30Although his homemade device was only supposed to make a loud boom, it ultimately exploded,

07:35sending metal pieces flying.

07:37While Daniels' death was deemed an accident, Meyer was sentenced to a year in jail with

07:42probation and community service.

07:44If I could go back and reverse it, I would.

07:50Unfortunately, we all have to live with this for the rest of our lives.

07:55A viral boom.

07:57This was not the firework show that anybody expected that night.

08:01And yeah, we talked to the family, and they said that they watched as 4th of July turned

08:06their driveway into a war zone.

08:09Many 4th of July incidents make headlines, but only a handful are captured on camera.

08:14This Nebraska family wasn't looking to go viral when they lit fireworks in their front

08:18yard.

08:19One firework didn't go up as planned, sending sparks flying in all directions.

08:23Just as the situation seemed to defuse, all hell broke loose.

08:27That one firework ignited the other fireworks in a box behind the minivan, sending the family

08:32running from the blast.

08:33Although the Simply Safe Home Security System recorded the whole thing, the family had no

08:38intention of sharing the footage.

08:40Somehow the video wound up on Reddit, spreading like wildfire.

08:44Remaining anonymous, the family informed the press that nobody was injured.

08:48Perhaps even more astonishing?

08:49The minivan is still fully functional.

08:52There was actually no injuries.

08:54Everyone is well.

08:57No property damage.

08:58So yeah, we're lucky.

09:01Shark attack.

09:02Long Island Beach closed to swimmers after a shark sighting.

09:05It's coming right by here.

09:07We like to tell ourselves that Jaws was only a movie, but shark attacks on the Fourth of

09:11July aren't unheard of.

09:13Visiting Fire Island with a couple of friends, Lyudmila Imog took a dip in the shallow waters,

09:18letting out a scream of pain.

09:20Imog felt as if she had been ensnared in a trap.

09:23I screamed to my friends, something is biting me, I felt like I was in a trap, it was holding

09:28onto me.

09:29It wasn't long until Imog realized this trap was the jaws of a shark.

09:33Thankfully, it wasn't a great white.

09:35According to Imog's friends, the beast was between four and five feet long.

09:39The circumstances were alarming nonetheless, but Imog kept her cool.

09:42She was super calm.

09:44This is not what you expect from shark bites, or bites in general.

09:47Reaching into the shark's mouth, she freed herself and returned to shore with minor injuries.

09:52Imog considers herself lucky, especially considering what went down on Amity Island.

09:57The boat blowout.

09:58I saw one of the boats caught on fire, actually I had a co-worker say that one of the boats

10:03was on fire, so I rushed and jumped on the forklift as quick as I could.

10:07Sharks might keep some people out of the water on the Fourth of July, but there's another

10:11dangerous foe we constantly underestimate.

10:13Fireworks.

10:14In 2013, 18 boats were damaged by fire near the Skylaunch Marina on Lake Union, resulting

10:20in $1.5 million worth of damage.

10:23The Seattle Fire Department determined that the blaze stemmed from illegal fireworks,

10:28which were shot off from a hill not too far away from the marina.

10:31The annual fireworks display at Lake Union is typically a lovely sight, but spectators

10:36got more than they bargained for that year.

10:38The only upside is that nobody was killed or seriously injured, with just one firefighter

10:43suffering a minor knee injury.

10:44I gave it a shot, and then I just had to leave it up to the fire department at that point.

10:49No one got hurt, so that was great.

10:50When sparklers attack.

10:51The Fourth of July celebration takes a dangerous turn in Claremont County.

10:56Seven people were hurt, some of them seriously injured.

10:59Sometimes it just takes a tiny little spark to make a big boom.

11:03A group of people in Ohio learned this the hard way one fateful Fourth of July.

11:07As roughly 20 individuals partied inside, several children played outside with sparklers.

11:12When a spark from one of the sparklers landed in a bag full of unused fireworks, a recipe

11:17for disaster was ignited.

11:19The fireworks went off, and a total of seven people were reportedly injured.

11:23One woman was left with serious burns covering half of her body, while the person hurt the

11:27worst was a little girl.

11:29While they recover, investigators are looking into the possibility of charges.

11:34An instant tragedy.

11:35Now, a lot of people in the town of Callis say they're just speechless and in shock and

11:40disbelief.

11:41Whenever fireworks are set off in an unsafe manner, there's a huge risk for injury or

11:45an even worse occurrence.

11:47Tragically, a man named Devon Staples lost his life in a terrible pyrotechnic accident.

11:52He died while setting off fireworks with his friends on the Fourth of July, 2015.

11:56The actor had decided to place a reloadable fireworks mortar tube on top of his head.

12:01Shortly after igniting the firework, Staples died instantly, in what his brother described

12:06as a freak accident.

12:07The terrible incident left his family and friends devastated on what was intended to

12:11be a joyful occasion.

12:13He definitely left the party, that's for sure.

12:17Explosives in Central Park

12:18...investigation into a bizarre explosion in Central Park that seriously injured a young

12:23man from Virginia.

12:25Over the Fourth of July weekend in 2016, college student Connor Golden was climbing down a

12:30rock in Central Park.

12:31As misfortune would have it, the teenage tourist stepped on a handmade, shock-sensitive explosive

12:37that was inside a black plastic bag.

12:39The impact caused the explosive to detonate, blowing off Golden's foot.

12:43The blast was so loud that it interrupted the nearby funeral service for Elie Wiesel,

12:48a Nobel Prize winner and Holocaust survivor.

12:51Golden's left leg was subsequently amputated, although he would walk again with the use

12:56of a prosthetic leg, paid for partially via Kickstarter.

12:59The moral of the story?

13:01Always watch your step, and never leave explosives lying around.

13:05This was an explosive device that was placed, or put in this area, with a specific intent

13:10to harm any individual.

13:12Tragedy on the water

13:13It's a tragedy for us to see something like this happen.

13:16This is probably the worst accident that I've seen in my 11 year...

13:20The fireworks fiasco in Seattle might have ruined boats, but property damage is inconsequential

13:25compared to the loss of a human life.

13:28After a Miami fireworks show wrapped up, tragedy struck the Dinner Key Marina, where three

13:33boats collided in a catastrophic crash.

13:36Twenty-two individuals were involved in the crash, which ultimately claimed the lives

13:40of Andy Garcia, Kelsey Karpiak, Victoria Dempsey, and Jason Soleimani.

13:45In addition to those four fatalities, seven were left injured.

13:49Given the scorching July weather, it's no wonder the sea calls out to many people on

13:53the Fourth of July.

13:54Accidents like this will motivate anybody to stay on dry land, though.

13:58The families of everyone involved with this are still trying to piece together exactly

14:01what happened and what caused this to happen.

14:05Some of them are forced to plan funerals at this time.

14:08Simi Valley fireworks fail

14:10In towns across America, an estimated 14,000 firework shows, with this one north of Los

14:15Angeles suddenly turning terrifying.

14:18When people are messing around with fireworks at home, there's obviously going to be some

14:22risk involved.

14:23When people attend a professional fireworks display open to the public, though, they expect

14:27things to go off without a hitch.

14:29This wasn't the case in Simi Valley, California, where a 2013 fireworks show resulted in a

14:34major Fourth of July fail.

14:36A pyrotechnic shell went off in its mortar tube, causing a chain reaction that sent fireworks

14:42blasting towards an audience of thousands.

14:44The area suddenly turned into a combat zone, leaving dozens injured, although fortunately,

14:50nobody was killed.

14:51Firefighters and medics immediately on the scene, 36 people injured.

14:55The perilous parade

14:57Like fireworks shows, parades are an Independence Day tradition for numerous families.

15:02In 2013, however, the Liberty Fest Fourth of July parade ended tragically for one family.

15:08On a busy street in Edmond, Oklahoma, Quentin Hooper drove afloat with several karate students

15:14on board.

15:15Among the students was Hooper's young son, Aiden, who fell off the flatbed trailer and

15:20was accidentally run over by the float.

15:22"...coach says between the injured player, his panicked teammates, and the people in

15:26the crowd, it was pandemonium as he waited for the ambulance."

15:30A nurse and a police officer performed CPR on Aiden, but he was unfortunately pronounced

15:35dead upon arriving at the hospital.

15:37Following the unspeakable nightmare, Quentin and his wife Susanna have strived to keep

15:42their son's memory alive through the Aiden Hooper Legacy Fund.

15:45"...the coach adds the boy's family wants people to know they don't blame anyone for

15:49what happened."

15:50Long Island car crash

15:52"...tonight, as survivors of the crash recover, police are trying to figure out how this happened."

15:56While the water isn't always the safest place to be on the Fourth of July, the roads aren't

16:00much better.

16:01Speeding down a slippery street in Long Island, Gustave Geyer swerved his 1990 Chevy pickup

16:07truck into another lane.

16:09The truck crashed into a 2014 Nissan Ultima with four adults and a baby boy inside.

16:14"...in a no-passing zone, at what's described as a high rate of speed, above the speed limit."

16:20Thus ensued a fatal collision that not only claimed Geyer's life, but also killed three

16:25of the Ultima's passengers.

16:27The baby, who had a few minor injuries, and his mother, who was left with life-threatening

16:31burns, were the only survivors.

16:34According to reports, Geyer had a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit.

16:39Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified

16:43about our latest videos.

16:44You have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them.

16:48If you're on your phone, make sure you go into settings and switch on your notifications.

16:54Jesse William Burley

16:56Police identified the victim as Jesse William Burley.

16:59This accident is so brutal and bizarre that it sounds like something out of a Coen Brothers

17:04movie, especially seeing how it took place in Fargo, North Dakota.

17:08According to eyewitnesses, 41-year-old Jesse William Burley walked into the middle of the

17:13streets to set off a 4th of July firework.

17:16He lit it up, a puff of smoke appeared, and then boom.

17:20Resident Chris Hansen immediately rushed to his neighbor's aid, only to find that Burley

17:24had been beheaded.

17:25Hansen later stated that the fireworks came with a warning that read,

17:29"...if found, please report to the U.S. government."

17:32Authorities are not sure if the firework was bought in a store or homemade, but they think

17:37it was some type of mortar style of firework.

17:40If you have any 4th of July safety tips, please share them in the comments.

17:44This is where many spectators were sitting, some suffered burns, others were hit by projectiles

17:48like this.

17:49Did you enjoy this video?

17:50Check out these other clips from WatchMojo, and be sure to subscribe and ring the bell

17:54to be notified about our latest videos.

18:07Thanks for watching!

18:08Check out these other clips from WatchMojo, and be sure to subscribe and ring the bell

18:09to be notified about our latest videos.

Recommended

Category

Transcript

Recommended