July 5th 2024.
A festive Fourth of July celebration turned chaotic when malfunctioning fireworks at a packed Utah football stadium accidentally struck members of the audience, resulting in up to six people being sent to the hospital. According to authorities and event organizers, the incident occurred during the opening ceremonies of the highly-anticipated Stadium of Fire show - the main event of Provo's annual Freedom Festival held at the prestigious LaVell Edwards Stadium on the beautiful grounds of Brigham Young University.
Emory Cook, spokesperson for the Freedom Festival, shared that the show had to be paused for about 15 minutes as injured audience members received immediate medical attention. While the exact number of individuals injured by the wayward fireworks and the extent of their injuries is still unknown, Cook confirmed that six people were taken to the hospital. The cause of the mishap, which involved fireworks being launched from inside the stadium as jets flew overhead, is currently being investigated by local authorities.
Several videos posted on social media captured the terrifying moment when individual fireworks strayed from the main cluster and landed among the rows of spectators in the stands. With a sold-out crowd of approximately 45,000 people, it's no surprise that the situation quickly became chaotic. "There was definitely a firework that malfunctioned, but we're still trying to determine how it happened," Cook stated.
Teresa Jack, a Provo resident, was watching the show from the field when she witnessed a rocket fly over her head and explode in the east stands, causing a loud boom and a thick cloud of smoke. She recounted how people in the audience began waving to alert officials of the injuries and started shouting "stop the show" at the speaker on stage. Fortunately, the event organizers had a well-organized response plan in place, and attendees were asked to remain in their seats while the injured were directed to a medical tent for prompt treatment. Jack praised the quick response of the fire department and paramedics who were already on the scene when the incident occurred, ensuring that the injured were reached within a minute. She added that only one person was transported to the hospital by the fire department, but it's possible that others made their way there on their own.
Despite the mishap, the show went on as planned after receiving approval from the Provo fire marshal. The fireworks were thoroughly inspected before resuming, as confirmed by Karen Ellingsworth, spokesperson for the BYU police department. Cook clarified that the fireworks that malfunctioned were relatively small and not the same ones used for the grand finale. The larger fireworks are kept outside the stadium, he added.
As someone who attended the festival specifically to see the Jonas Brothers perform, Jack admitted that she and her friends almost left during the finale due to the earlier malfunction. However, they stayed and were blown away by the incredible display. She also mentioned being equally impressed by the use of drones, raising the question of whether it's time to reconsider the traditional use of fireworks in celebrating Independence Day. "Perhaps it's time for us to re-evaluate this tradition," she pondered.
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