PIERCETON — An unidentified man in a pickup suffered a severe fireworks-related injury to his hand Friday night.

At approximately 6 p.m. Friday, July 5, Pierceton Fire Department and Lutheran EMS were called to the area of CR 300E and CR 550S in reference to a fireworks-related injury. 

According to Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Public Information Officer Chris Francis, the official report states that three occupants: a male driver, a female passenger and a male passenger were in a single cab pickup traveling in that area. Another vehicle was following behind, and the occupants of both vehicles reportedly knew each other.

Francis said the occupants of the pickup were planning to light an unspecified type of firework and throw it out the window of the vehicle in an attempt to “mess with” the occupants in the vehicle behind them.

A 20-year-old man who was a passenger in the pickup was holding the firework in his hand when the female passenger attempted to light the firework. Before the man could release the firework, the device detonated and his left hand was blown off, according to police.

Burns to the man’s chest area were also reported. No information regarding possible injuries to the other two people in the pickup. The window and instrument panel of the vehicle were also damaged.