Stapleton made the bomb, which consisted of two packs of sparklers taped together with electrical tape, according to an incident report from the Butler County Sheriff’s Office. Stapleton then placed the bomb inside an old refrigerator and lit the fuse, according to the report.
The explosion caused pieces of shrapnel to strike Stapleton’s ankle, according to the report. He also suffered a laceration above his right eye.
A man called 911 and told a Butler County dispatcher that “he got his ankle cut off.” Another caller said, “we had an accident with fireworks. We’ve got a man down. We need somebody here now.”
A dispatcher asked the caller, “Is his ankle still attached?” The caller responded, “barely.”
The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the accident.
Seven people last year were injured in Ohio because of fireworks, said Lindsey Burnworth, public information officer with the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Aerial shells that are fired from mortars are a common type of fireworks that are illegal to discharge in Ohio, she said. But novelty items such as sparklers, snaps, glow snakes and smoke bombs are legal in the state.
Burnworth said the safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a show produced by a professional.
“Always stick to the professional firework shows. Make sure you stay at least a quarter mile away from them,” she said.
“You hear about every year somebody getting hurt by bombs and homemade fireworks,” said Vicki Wyant, a family friend of Stapleton. “They need to be leave it to the ones that know what they’re doing.”
Wyant said she hopes Stapleton makes a full recovery. “He’s got a young boy. He’s got his whole life ahead of him,” she said.
UC Medical Center has not released updated information about Stapleton’s condition.
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