A man remains in critical condition after being struck in the face with a commercial grade firework in Unincorporated Cary.  

On July 2, 2023, at approximately 9:15 p.m., Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies and Cary Fire Protection District responded to a residence in the 24400 block of Hickory Nut Grove Road, Unincorporated Cary, for a person seriously injured by a firework.  Sheriff’s deputies arrived and found the 58-year-old man in and out of consciousness. 

Preliminary investigation shows the man came to a gathering at the Hickory Nut Grove address.  He brought numerous commercially rated fireworks, which require a permit to possess and detonate.  The man was detonating the fireworks for those at the gathering.  He lit a firework, which did not detonate as expected.  The man looked into the tube housing the firework and it discharged, striking his face and then exploding upon the contact with his face.

The man sustained major injuries to the head and became unconscious.  He was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, where he remains in critical condition.

There were several unexploded commercial grade fireworks collected by sheriff’s deputies, which were transferred to the Waukegan Bomb Squad for destruction.

Criminal charges are possible.