Child in critical condition after fireworks accident

Yates County Sheriff Ron Spike says that a July 4th incident left two kids injured and hospitalized after the detonation of a homemade firework. A 14-year-old boy and an 11-year-old girl, who are siblings were injured when a “Homemade steel mortar with a heavy smooth bore angled barrel made from a pipe” exploded outward, according to Spike.Spike says that approximately ten children were at a camp site near 3998 Chubb Hollow Road in the Town of Barrington a few miles north of Dundee when a loud explosion was reported from the area of the campsite. The report came in at 6:49 pm on Monday with the additional report of injuries at the site.The 11-year-old was treated at Strong Memorial Hospital and has since been released. She suffered a puncture wound to the shoulder, which was treated successfully. The 14-year-old suffered from puncture wounds to the abdomen and wrist. He remains at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester after undergoing emergency trauma surgery overnight. He is currently in the ICU and expected to undergo further surgeries.Explaining what caused the explosion — Spike said, “In this instance the investigation indicates that the shotgun type smokeless powder load was too great or the device was faulty — causing it to explode apart at its base projecting steel shrapnel into the bodies of the two youth.”He also indicated that both bodies were reported to have been around 30 feet away from the device at the time of the explosion. The investigation into this matter is ongoing at this time.