Fourth of July celebrations took a tragic turn for a South Carolina father who died after a firework he had attached to his hat exploded, several US media outlets reported.
Allen Ray McGraw, a 41-year-old man, wanted to perform an Independence Day concert for his neighbors in Somerville.
Witnesses said the 40-year-old man, who was wearing American flag-colored clothing including a top hat, had placed the fireworks on his hood before lighting them.
The victim's wife, Paige McGraw, told police that her husband did it to impress the neighbors, adding that he was particularly drunk at the time of the tragedy.
Mr. McGraw died at the scene after sustaining extremely serious head injuries.
His wife said she initially thought the fireworks were not lit. When she realized the potential danger, she allegedly urged Allen Ray McGraw to stop playing with the fireworks. Mail and Express Mail. Unfortunately, the explosion happened and her husband fell to the ground.
The couple's son had recently gotten married, which would have contributed to the sense of celebration that pervaded the family's father on the Fourth of July.
“Allen loved that party. He was patriotic and proud of his son and excited to have a daughter-in-law. He was living his best life that night,” Big McGraw said.
