A South Paris Man died on Saturday during a private fireworks show in Roxbury when he was struck by a projectile from a “mini-cannon,” according to autopsy reports.
[RELATED: State Fire Marshal Probes Fireworks Malfunction at Sunday River Resort that Left 3 Injured…]
The Oxford County Sheriff’s Office, MedCare Ambulance Service, and Roxbury Fire Department all responded to a Roxbury residence at 9:24 p.m. after receiving reports that a man had “collapsed” during a private fireworks display.
Emergency services discovered the 41-year-old Joseph Hennessey of South Paris and transported him from the scene, at which point he was pronounced dead.
After Hennessey was pronounced dead, the Fire Marshal’s Office and the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit responded to conduct assist with an investigation.
The Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta conducted an autopsy and determined that Hennessey had died after being struck by a projectile from a “mini-cannon” used in the fireworks display.
The major crimes unit is continuing to investigate the death, and there is not yet any indication whether charges will be filed.
This is not the first firework-related incident in Oxford County this month, though it is the most tragic.
During a 4th of July display at the Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, a firework mortar failed and exploded, injuring three members of the Central Maine Pyrotechnic. That failure resulted in no fatalities.
