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Florida man has hand partially severed after firework goes off in car, deputies say

Posted at 8:11 AM, Jan 01, 2020
and last updated 2020-01-01 08:15:30-05

DELTONA, Fla. (WESH/CNN) -- A Central Florida man is recovering after a firework exploded in a vehicle outside his home in Volusia County, deputies said.

Emergency officials said they received a call that stated someone's hand was partially severed after a firework blew up on it.

When authorities arrived, they said a man was on the ground holding his friend, Corey Waugh's, arm, which was bleeding profusely.

Deputies said they applied a tourniquet to the arm and Waugh was taken to the hospital where he was conscious and alert.

Authorities said his friend, who was driving the vehicle where the incident happened, could not hear from his left ear.

According to authorities, all he remembered was lighting a cigarette then hearing a loud explosion.

When deputies inspected the car, they said they found remnants of a red torch lighter that was blown apart and several fragments of the victim's hand.

Officials said the windshield was shattered and the driver's side window was blown out.

Officials believe Waugh pulled out the projectile from a firework and placed it in his right hand and lit the fuse.

Hospital officials told authorities the victim's hand would likely need to be amputated.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to pay for Waugh's medical expenses.

The page says Waugh's friend was driving and flicked a cigarette out the window, but it flew back into the vehicle and landed in the backseat with the fireworks, causing it to go off.

The-CNN-Wire

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