Authorities release property, probe cause in deadly fireworks blast in Union Township

UNION CITY — Authorities wrapped up their on-site investigation Monday into a fireworks-related explosion at a Union Township residence on Sunday morning that killed a 55-year-old man.

Investigators are now looking into the cause and origin of the blast that killed Michael Cross, the investigating Pennsylvania State Police trooper said Tuesday.

Cross died following what authorities said was a fireworks-related explosion and fire at a residence on Hanlin Cross Road, off Route 8 and north of Union City, on Sunday morning. The explosion happened in a detached garage on the property, and the garage received extensive damage, said Trooper Brad Barnhill, a state police fire marshal.

Investigators continued to hold the property on Monday as they cleared the scene of any ordnance that did not explode or was not consumed by the fire, Barnhill said. The Erie Bomb Squad and the state police Hazardous Device and Explosives Section were on scene and detonated three suspected active devices that remained on scene, he said.

The unexploded ordnances were knocked away by the others that exploded, and members of the bomb squad rendered them safe on Monday morning, said Lt. David Hudson, the commander of the Erie Bomb Squad.

Once the devices were rendered safe, authorities launched their investigation into the cause and origin of the blast, Barnhill said.

Investigators wrapped up their work on the property on Monday afternoon and released it back to Cross's family, he said.

Investigators said neighbors helped Cross get away from the area after the explosion occurred on Sunday at about 10:15 a.m. Cross was taken to UPMC Hamot, where he was pronounced dead at 11:56 a.m. Sunday, according to the Erie County Coroner's Office.

A relative of Cross told the Erie Times-News on Monday that Cross and others annually put on a fireworks display for residents in the area, typically on the Saturday after the Fourth of July. Barnhill said Tuesday it was his understanding that the Cross family put on the fireworks display mainly as a family event, but also to give back to the community.

A spokesman for the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said Tuesday that Cross was licensed to handle fireworks. Federal regulations require any person engaging in the business of importing, manufacturing, dealing in, receiving or transporting display fireworks to obtain a federal explosives license or permit from the ATF for a specific activity, according to information on the agency's website.

The ATF is supporting the investigation into what happened on Sunday morning. Its other role in the incident is in terms of the agency's licensing and oversight of explosives and businesses that work in explosives, the agency spokesman said.

Contact Tim Hahn at thahn@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNhahn.