LANSING, KS (KCTV) -
An accident after a fireworks display in eastern Kansas Wednesday night killed a volunteer who was helping dispose of fireworks.
Police said the 44-year-old Lansing resident was volunteering for Wednesday night's fireworks show and a firework exploded near him after the show in Lansing, KS.
"A volunteer that assists with the set up and disposal of our annual fireworks display last night was killed at Kenneth Bernard Park," said Ken Miller with the Lansing Police Department.
Kenneth W. Bernard Community Park in Lansing was closed Thursday while police continue to investigate the tragedy.
Thursday night, about 3,500 people attended the annual fireworks show.
Miller noted that none of the guests were in danger because the accident happened well after the show was over and attendees had already left the park when the man was killed.
"Crews were disposing of fireworks that had not discharged yet and one apparently exploded near the individual," Miller said.
Miller said this is the first time a tragic incident of this nature has ever happened in Lansing and it's too early to tell how it will affect next year's show.
"We're still obviously investigating what happened at this past show. We have not made any decisions at this time as to how it's going to impact future shows," he said. "The folks that put on this show for us year in and year out are mainly volunteers - they are a very close knit family. This has got everybody grieving today deeply."
The Lansing man's death was an accident, according to an initial investigation conducted by the Lansing Police Department.
Miller adds the volunteer who was killed had worked fireworks shows for years in Lansing.
The man's name has not yet been released pending notification of his family.
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