A "fireworks accident" left seven people injured and several houses and vehicles damaged in Northwest Indiana on Saturday night, police said.
Griffith police said officers were dispatched to the 900-block of North Arbogast Street at about 9:30 p.m.
Police said it appears that a private fireworks show at home there had an accidental malfunction, injuring seven people and damaging four houses and 10 vehicles.
Surveillance video from a neighbor captured the bright light from the explosion. Right after the loud explosion, video from another neighbor captured a barrage of fireworks going off, followed by screams.
Neighbors say debris ended up inside their residences, and those who were home at the time say there were dozens of people enjoying the firework show outside when things took a turn.
Alcohol and fireworks do not mix... Make sure you're doing things with care.
"I heard a big explosion, and I come out and I see a bunch of people running and the whole neighborhood nothing but smoke," Griffith resident Cliff Edwards said. " It really was surreal, I mean you walk out and see nothing but smoke and maybe 50 to 80 people just running everywhere. It was almost like you couldn't believe it's happening on your block."
Edwards said he felt the blast inside his home, and some of the debris flew into his niece's bedroom.
"All the shelves fell, all the pictures fell, books were everywhere, and we ran outside thinking, we thought maybe a car exploded," Edwards said.
Troy and Amy Matthis came home to a scene full of emergency responders. The scene was far different from the fun they initially saw before things took a dangerous turn.
"When we showed up, it was chaos," Troy said. "There were police, fire, EMS everywhere."
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"I was panicking for the children that I saw before my husband and my daughter, and I went to the Central Park firework show, there were so many kids out there," Amy said.
The Matthis family said debris from the blast damaged the outside and inside of their home.
"There were three impacts that went through the walls," Troy said. "It ricocheted off a wall, hit the TV, different devices, and I was just thinking, 'I'm glad no one was home.'"
Troy, who is a Griffith firefighter, hopes what happened on his block reminds others to be vigilant and safe this Fourth of July holiday.
"Alcohol and fireworks do not mix," Troy said. "Somebody needs to be responsible and be an adult in this situation. Make sure you're doing things with care, you're being safe, because something could affect you, but it could also affect other people."
Authorities did not immediately release information about the ages and conditions of those injured.
Police are investigating the incident and asked anyone with information to contact them at 219-924-7503. Anonymous tips can be left by calling 219-922-3085.
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