Rhode Island man died after firework set off on his head, police say

A recent autopsy report following the Mother’s Day incident shows the man died of a “blast injury.”

A 39-year-old man was killed on May 12 when a mortar-style firework was placed on his head and set off, according to police in Westerly, Rhode Island.

A recent autopsy report of David Ziegenfuss lists the cause of death as a “blast injury” to the head and the manner of death as accidental, Westerly Police Chief Paul Gingerella told the Providence Journal. Those involved in the incident were drinking alcohol, he said.

“It appears they were messing around, and they placed a firework on top of his head,” the chief told the Journal.

An investigation into the circumstances of the death at the home at Pound Road continues, Gingerella said.

The mix of high-risk activity with alcohol use is dangerous, Gingerella said.

“The involvement of alcohol increases the dangers of illegal activities exponentially,” Gingerella told the Journal.

The mortar-type firework used is illegal in Rhode Island.

According to the 2023 US Consumer Product Safety Commission Fireworks Annual Report, there were eight reported fireworks-related deaths the prior year, with the majority of deaths associated with mortar-style devices. Five of those deaths were due to fireworks misuse.

The agency is reporting 159 fireworks-related deaths between 2008 and 2023, for an average of 9.9 deaths per year.

Family members set up a GoFundMe page to help with end-of-life expenses.

The page says Ziegenfuss was airlifted from Westerly to Yale New Haven Hospital, where he died.

His brother wrote that Ziegnefuss was an “adoring father to his son, a fun uncle, a listening ear and a caring shoulder. He was very loved by his family and friends.”

Westerly Police Department did not return a request for further information before publication.