Maryville resident killed during Fourth of July celebration

The death of a Maryville man marred what was otherwise an uneventful July 4 celebration in Blount County.

At approximately 10 p.m., six Blount County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to Evergreen Farms Lane, Maryville for reports of an unconscious individual.

A total of eight individuals had gathered to celebrate the holiday together. Among them, Matthew Sellars, 35, Murphy Road, Maryville, was one of three holding the fireworks as they shot off, according to reports.

Sellars was reportedly holding a lit firework in his right hand when it “exploded into his chest” and he “fell to the ground bleeding from the chest,” according to a 25 year-old witness.

When deputies arrived, they discovered an unconscious Sellars surrounded by three people attempting resuscitation via CPR.

Deputies took over CPR efforts, in addition to keeping pressure on a chest wound described as “large” in the report obtained from Blount County Sheriff’s Office until AMR arrived on the scene. Sellars also sustained injuries to his right hand. No other individuals were reported injured.

Sellars died on scene, according to reports. First responders pronounced the time of death as 10:30 p.m. July 4 and transported to Blount Memorial Hospital.

Fire was not called to the scene.