Firecrackers launched into moving car destroy vehicle in Ravenna Township

A driver in Ravenna Township got an unwelcome surprise Monday when firecrackers were thrown through an open window.

The driver was able to safety pull off the road but the Dodge Charger was completely destroyed by the subsequent fire, Ravenna Township Fire Chief David Moore said.

"It takes treating fireworks safety to a whole other level," he said. "This is just something that is beyond what we would normally see."

Moore said the department received a call to respond to the fire at state routes 5 and 59 at 4:01 p.m.

"We got a report that some kids had thrown firecrackers into the car through open windows," Moore said.

When firefighters got to the scene, "it was fully involved," Moore said.

Moore said everyone was able to safely get out of the vehicle, with no reported injuries.

"We did not transport anybody from the scene," he said.

Moore said he did not believe anyone had been identified as a suspect at the scene.

An incident report from the Portage County Sheriff's Office had not been completed as of Friday. The sheriff's office did not respond to a request for comment.

Moore said someone could easily have been injured or killed, either in the fire or if the car had crashed into other vehicles.

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Reporter Jeff Saunders can be reached at jsaunders@recordpub.com.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Firecrackers launched into moving car destroy vehicle in Ravenna Township