Report: Man loses most of hand after firework explodes in car

A Florida man lost most of his hand after a firework went off in a car Saturday morning in Deltona.

Authorities received a call at around 1:20 a.m. outside a residence located on the 2000 block of Newmark Drive about an explosion that left one man without a hand, according to a report by the The Daytona Beach News-Journal.

Volusia County Sheriff ’s Office deputies arrived on scene and found a blue Dodge pickup truck parked on the side of the road. Outside of it was 27-year-old Corey Waugh of Deltona lying on his back with his left hand severed and bleeding, The News-Journal reported.

A deputy slowed the bleed with a personal tourniquet, and then had Waugh taken to Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford, the report showed.

Deputies spoke to the driver of the Dodge, 27-year-old Kyle Lafleur, who said all he remembered was lighting a cigarette when suddenly there was a loud explosion.

Deputies then inspected the Dodge and found remnants of a rocket-propelled aerial cluster burst firework.

Waugh’s father, Brian, started a GoFundMe page for Waugh’s recovery. On the profile page, Brian explained that his son was riding home with Lafleur and fireworks in the back seat. Lafleur flicked his cigarette out of the window but the bud instead flew to the back seat.

Waugh reportedly tried to grab a mortar the cigarette had ignited, but was unsuccessful in throwing it away.

Waugh lost at least 80% of his left hand, received damage to both of eardrums, possibly received eye damage and sustained 3rd degree burns on his face.