A 12-year-old boy was seriously hurt in Middletown Tuesday evening after a firework exploded in his hand, according to authorities.
Emergency crews responded around 5 p.m. to the area of Ashley and Emma avenues, where the Orange County Office of Emergency Management says the child was injured during an incident involving a lit firework.
Authorities say the boy was flown by medical helicopter to receive a higher level of care. His current condition has not been released.
News 12 was at the scene and spoke with a neighbor who witnessed the aftermath.
“I see two women running and then I came out. There are kids lighting fireworks here nonstop,” said Matthew Ortiz.
Ortiz says he heard a loud explosion followed by screaming and watched as the child was placed on a stretcher and airlifted from the neighborhood.
“I saw the stretcher they put him in. It’s unfortunate that happened,” he said. “A lot of kids nowadays get ahold of these TNT sticks basically—and boom. They don’t realize it’s dangerous.”
The incident is under investigation.
News 12 has calls out to the City of Middletown Police Department for additional information.
