42-year-old man killed by firework injury in Gage Park

Police investigate late Tuesday in the Gage Park alley where a man was fatally struck in the face by a firework. | Network Video Productions

SUN-TIMES MEDIA WIRE - A man died after being struck in the face by a firework Tuesday night in the Gage Park neighborhood on the Southwest Side.

David Griffin, 42, was struck about 9:30 p.m. as the explosive shot into the air in an alley in the 2500 block of West 54th Street, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Griffin, who lived in the same neighborhood, was taken to Holy Cross Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 9:54 p.m., authorities said. No other injuries were reported.

An autopsy Wednesday found Griffin died of craniocerebral injuries from fireworks, and ruled the death an accident, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Police are also investigating the incident as an accidental death.