Lubbock police say an 18-year-old man was killed on New Year’s Day after a fireworks accident in north Lubbock. Officers responded around 7:21 p.m. to the area of North Ulrich Avenue and Dartmouth Street, where they found the teen with critical injuries. Despite immediate life-saving efforts by police and EMS, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators say the teen was celebrating with friends and family, shooting fireworks in the street. At some point, a firework he was holding detonated near his head, causing fatal injuries. Police confirmed there was no foul play—just a tragic accident involving explosive devices and extremely close proximity to one’s face.
What makes this even more painfully on-brand for Lubbock is that the city already has an ordinance making almost all consumer fireworks illegal inside city limits. Possession, use, and sale are prohibited, with violations carrying fines of up to about $1,000 per offense. In other words, this wasn’t just dangerous—it was already against the rules everyone pretends don’t exist once the calendar flips.
Every year, the city repeats the warnings. Every year, residents repeat the same ritual of ignoring them. Fireworks stands pop up like invasive weeds just outside town, and somehow everyone is shocked when the predictable outcome happens. A family is grieving, first responders did everything they could, and Lubbock once again proves that enforcement-by-vibes is not a public safety strategy.
If illegal fireworks, $1,000 fines, and annual reminders still aren’t enough—what exactly does Lubbock think those ordinances are for, decoration?
https://www.everythinglubbock.com/news/local-news/fatal-fireworks-injury-lubbock/
https://www.everythinglubbock.com/news/local-news/lubbock-fireworks-tragedy-mourns-kobe/