A couple of fireworks salespeople couldn't celebrate July 4th because they were hawking their wares that day, so they decided to celebrate last night on the beach along Gandy Boulevard, fire officials say.
The belated holiday celebration backfired.
Fire officials say the pair accidentally set off fireworks in their car, creating such a large explosion the car's windows and sunroof landed 30 feet away.
The duo - a man in his 30s, and a woman in her 20s - had been lighting fireworks at the causeway but decided to call it a night after nearby beachgoers got irritated, said Lt. Joel Granata of St. Petersburg Fire and Rescue.
They gathered up their burnt fireworks off the ground and put them in a plastic storage bin and put the box in the back seat of their car, a 1991 Lexus LS 400.
The storage box already contained some unused fireworks, Granata said.
After the pair got into the car, they started to drive off, Granata said. Embers from the exploded fireworks ignited the unused fireworks, and the back seat burst into flames, he said.
The car stopped, and both got out of the Lexus, Granata said. The man burned his right arm and right thigh as he was trying to take his car keys out of the ignition, Granata said.
Fire officials said the man had burns over about 10 percent of his body.
He was taken to Tampa General Hospital in stable condition, Granata said. The woman was unhurt.
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