Celebration turned tragic when an 8-year-old girl was killed in an explosion during a “large illegal fireworks display” along a residential street in Orange County on July 4, authorities said.
The deadly incident unfolded about 9:45 p.m. on a residential cul-de-sac in the 8000 block of Cornflower Circle in Buena Park, according to the Buena Park Police Department.
Patrol officers were in the area when they spotted family members “frantically” carrying a child into a home, the agency said in a written statement.
A fireworks display lights up the sky during an Independence Day celebration at Bagdouma Park in Coachella, Calif., Thursday, July 3, 2025.
“Officers immediately stopped to assist and discovered a young girl suffered critical injuries, consistent with a fireworks-related explosion,” the statement said.
First-responders provided medical care and rushed the badly injured girl to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead, officials said.
Investigators determined the explosion took place during what police described as a “large illegal fireworks display” that had been placed in the street by a neighborhood resident.
The fireworks “failed and began misfiring toward the residence where the child was,” according to the statement. A burning projectile then struck other fireworks that were near the young victim, causing them to ignite as well.
“At some point, the child had been struck, causing fatal injuries,” the statement said. No other injuries were reported.
The resident believed to have set off the fireworks was arrested, police said. The case would be presented to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office for consideration of charges.
Authorities did not release the identity of the girl killed in the explosion.
No further details were available.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: 8-year-old girl killed in SoCal fireworks explosion on July 4