St. Louis Post-Dispatch
NEW MADRID, Mo. — A volunteer firefighter with the New Madrid Fire Department was killed Friday night at a city fireworks display on its Mississippi River riverfront.
The firefighter, Bill Poley, 40, of Marston, Mo., was pronounced dead at the scene after a fireworks mortar struck him, New Madrid Police Chief Claude McFerren said on Saturday. Poley was helping light fireworks. The accident occurred about five minutes after the show began.
McFerren said he believed the crowd did not know what happened. The display was cut short after the accident.
Poley worked for the city as a animal control officer and street department worker.
The Missouri Highway Patrol is investigating the accident.