Teen loses hand, chunk of leg after illegal firecrackers explode at Oakland party
By APTuesday, July 6, 2010
Teen disfigured by firecracker blast in Oakland
OAKLAND, Calif. — A teenager who was set to join the Marines later this year has lost a hand and a chunk of his leg after illegal firecrackers exploded in his pocket in Oakland.
Nineteen-year-old Josh Myers was at a Fourth of July party Sunday night when he says a floating ember ignited bottle rockets in his back pocket. The flames spread to his front pocket, which held two M-1000s.
Myers says he realized the powerful firecrackers were about to explode and managed to push a 2-year-old girl out of the way. The blast seriously injured the toddler’s leg.
The firecrackers were equivalent to a half-stick of dynamite. Myers says he bought them on the street for $10 each.
He says he planned to join the Marines in September. Those dreams are dashed.
