(WWJ) Novi police have released audio of a 911 call in the wake of a fireworks accident that claimed the life of a Columbus Blue Jackets' goaltender.
The call is one of three that came in during frantic moments after a fireworks shell struck Matiss Kivlenieks as he was celebrating with a large group at a home in Novi on the 4th of July.
As is relayed in the call (listen above), Kivlenieks was conscious and talking in the moments after being struck in the chest at around 10 p.m. Sunday.
Another 911 caller told a dispatcher: "Hey, we have someone who was hit by a fireworks. Can you come here immediately? He's breathing. We have a nurse here. He's breathing, but he's not doing very good."
Kivlenieks soon went into shock and died while being transported by paramedics to Ascension Hospital.
Authorities told WWJ Newsradio 950 that Kivlenieks, 24 of Latvia, was in a hot tub when a mortar-style firework tilted slightly and began firing toward people nearby. Kivlenieks and several other people troed to flee, but Kivlenieks was hit in the chest by the firework.
While it was previously reported Kivlenieks died of a head injury sustained during the incident, Novi Police Lt. Jason Meier told WWJ that an autopsy revealed the cause of death was "chest trauma due to a fireworks mortar."
"We're not sure at this time, but we believe it was the percussion of the actual explosion, because he didn't have a lot of damage externally, just internally," Meier said.
Meier said police are still actively investigating the incident, conducting follow-up interviews and talking to everyone involved, but authorities "are looking at this as a tragic accident."
At this point, Meier told WWJ that that alcohol is not considered a contributing factor in the accident.
The Blue Jackets released a statement Monday, also calling it a "tragic accident."
"We are shocked and saddened by the loss of Matiss Kivlenieks, and we extend our deepest sympathies to his mother, Astrida, his family and friends during this devastating time," Blue Jackets President of Hockey Operations John Davidson said. "Kivi was an outstanding young man who greeted every day and everyone with a smile and the impact he had during his four years with our organization will not be forgotten."
Mejer said the nine-shot firework that killed Kivlenieks is legal in Michigan and it appear that the person who set it off was in compliance with state fireworks laws. He said police cannot disclose the name of the person who owns the home where the accident happened.
Fireworks-related death and injuries are on a rise, according to a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission report released in June. It found 15,600 people were treated in hospital emergency departments for fireworks-related injuries in 2020 compared to about 10,000 in 2019.
