Watch firework zip past grandson’s head, explode in grandma’s SUV. ‘Almost tragic’

A firework shot into an Oklahoma grandmother’s SUV and exploded, video shows, and she’s calling it a “miracle.”

It could have been so much worse, Kate Prince, of Miami, Oklahoma, said in a July 3 Facebook post, sharing video of the incident.

“I am only sharing this to tell everyone to be careful,” Prince said in the post, adding that the accident was “almost tragic.”

While shooting off fireworks, a lit rocket tipped over and launched, video shows. It narrowly missed her grandson, Prince said, zipping past his head as he sat on the tailgate of her SUV.

But instead of sending her grandson to the emergency room, or worse, the firework flew into the vehicle’s interior and detonated with a blinding red flash.

Prince’s SUV was damaged, and the rearview mirror “blew up,” but she’s grateful nobody was hurt.

Several people died across the U.S. as a result of firework-related accidents during recent Fourth of July celebrations, McClatchy News reported.

At least 9 people were killed by fireworks in the U.S. in 2021, according to a report by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and 11,500 people required ER treatment. The majority of those injuries — 74% — happen around the Fourth of July.

From 2006 to 2021, fireworks-related injuries increased by 25%, according to the report.

This story was originally published July 5, 2022 at 3:23 PM with the headline "Watch firework zip past grandson’s head, explode in grandma’s SUV. ‘Almost tragic’."