Man Loses Thumb When Firecracker Explodes in His Hand

A man who was drunk lost his thumb after the firecracker he was holding exploded in his hand, Long Beach police announced today.

In addition, 32 citations were issued for illegal fireworks in Long Beach during the Fourth of July holiday, police said.

The Long Beach Police Department responded to the July 4th incident at an unnamed location where the intoxicated man held onto a firecracker after lighting it and it exploded in his hand, police said. The unidentified injured man required an amputation of his thumb and remained hospitalized this morning.

Police also issued 32 citations for possession of illegal fireworks on July 4 and confiscated 271 fireworks. However, the city's communications center received 24 fewer pyrotechnic calls than last year, a reduction of 4.2 percent, according to police.

Authorities also arrested 18 people for being drunk in public on the Fourth of July and three drivers were jailed for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, according to police. Twenty-four citations were also issued for illegal barbecues.

--City News Service