Fireworks Already Leading To Injuries, Arrests In Chicago

The Fourth of July is on Sunday, and while people may have the best intentions while celebrating Independence Day, sometimes things get out of hand.

On Wednesday night, a 28-year-old man attempted to set off a firework near 82nd Street and Phillips Avenue on the South Side, the Chicago Tribune reports:

The man had put the firework in a tube in the ground, and when it didn't go off he peered inside to find out why, she said. The explosive detonated, leaving him with severe facial and eye injuries.

The firework reportedly had the strength of a quarter stick of dynamite, and the man was last listed in critical condition.

Early Thursday, a man decided it was a good idea to set off a smoke bomb on a CTA Red Line train.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that customers aboard a southbound Red Line train saw a man light a firework device when a train stopped at the 63rd Street station. They immediately notofied police standing on the station platform.

Michael Barber, 46, was taken into police custody and charged with disorderly conduct.

No injuries were reported and passengers were moved to another car.

Most fireworks are illegal in Illinois, but Indiana has dozens of fireworks shops just yards outside the Chicago city limits.

Sparklers, snake/glow worm pellets, smoke devices, trick noisemakers and plastic or paper caps are allowed in Illinois.