Dayton man shares experience with dangers of alcohol and fireworks
Injuries from fireworks have increased by 25 percent the past 15 years.
We spoke with one man who nearly died 14 years in Riverside after an accident using fireworks.
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Robert O’Neal showed News Center 7′s James Rider his scar Monday and it’s an injury that hasn’t slowed him down except for one thing.
“I had my hip replaced in 2016,” O’Neal said. “Bloodflow stopped going to the ball of my hip.”
He does not think about that night any more but explained what happened at 3 a.m. on the morning of July 4, 2008.
“Thoroughly intoxicated, leaving a bar to throw a green onion out the window,” O’Neal said. “Hit the window frame, came back in my truck under my seat. Rather than me getting out of the truck, tried to get it out of the truck, didn’t succeed.”
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He has this advice if you are shooting off fireworks on the Fourth of July.
“If you’re going to drink, don’t even mess with fireworks,” O’Neal said.
He tells Rider he isn’t bothered by fireworks, just wants him and others to be smarter and safe.
“Shot off a couple in the backyard yesterday.”
O’Neal says he is fully recovered and hopes people heed his advice so no one experiences what he did in 2008.
