Genesee County man dies in fireworks accident at his home, police say

CLAYTON TWP, MI – A Clayton Township man died in a fireworks accident on July 4, police said.

The 32-year-old man was pronounced dead at his home in the 1200 block of North Van Vleet Road after 9 p.m. on July 4.

“We’re trying to piece everything together right now,” said Clayton Township Police Detective Troy Belanger. “It appears to be an accident. Drugs or alcohol do not appear to be a factor.”

Belanger said it does not appear that the incident was due to a malfunction of the device.

“At first we thought it was a flying device, like a mortar being fired,” he said. “But it could have tipped over. Right now we’re still investigating. It was definitely not a stationary object on the ground at the time.”

The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

The Clayton Township Police Department is working with a Michigan State Fireworks Investigator on this case.

“Fireworks, even small ones for children, are still made of explosive material,” Belanger said. “So there is a danger. They can be fun, but you have to treat them with great respect and use them appropriately.”

Belanger said he hopes the investigation can be completed in a few weeks.