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An 11-year-old boy is in critical condition after a Lehi man's homemade firework exploded and nearly killed him. The explosion rocked the Lehi neighborhood Thursday night just before dark.
Surgeons at Primary Children's Medical Center say Bridger Hunt nearly bled to death and faces the possibility of losing his left leg. They say his injuries are identical to those of soldiers hurt by roadside bombs.
Neighbors were celebrating the end of Pioneer Day Thursday evening when they heard a powerful explosion. "I would say like a cannon, or louder than a cannon," neighbor Ray Bristol said.
Lehi police say a neighbor, 45-year-old Craig Miller, was in the street lighting black powder in a steel pipe. Neighbors say he ignited the pipe twice, creating a flash, but the third time, the one-inch-thick steel pipe exploded.
When the smoke cleared, 11-year-old Bridger, who was riding his bicycle near his grandparent's home, was struck with a large piece of shrapnel.
Emergency crews were called, and Hunt was flown to Primary Children's Medical Center where doctors performed immediate surgeries to repair his massive injuries.
"We often, in times of medicine, see slides from surgeons who have taken time to serve in the Middle East, and this injury looks like a military injury," said Dr. Eric Scaife, of Primary Children's Medical Center.
Surgeons credit a quick response from paramedics in stopping Bridger's blood loss and giving him a chance at survival. But the injuries may be too much to save his left leg.
"His entire hip and pelvis on the left side was shattered, it was gone. They did, ultimately, get the bleeding under control and get him stabilized, but they're now talking about the very real possibility that they're gonna end up having to take that limb," Steven Shaw, Hunt's grandfather, said.
"Bridger desperately wanted to be a professional skateboarder, and right now they are not sure if he is going to have the use of his left. But they have been fighting so hard to and working so diligently on him," said Dana Luke, Bridger's aunt.
The boy remains in critical condition at Primary Children's and is under heavy sedation. Doctors say he lost so much blood that he was within minutes of death before he arrived there Thursday night.
Bridger's family questions why someone would do this, but they are trying to focus their emotions on Bridger right now and not at the man responsible for the explosion.
"We don't feel hatred towards him because we know he did not intend it. Sometimes people make really poor judgments, and I guess this would be one of those times it resulted in very serious consequences," said Travis Shaw, Bridger's stepfather.
Bridger's family members are trying to cope the best they can and preparing themselves for when he is brought out of his drug-induced coma.
His stepfather, Travis Shaw, said, "He won't know that days have gone by. He will have no concept of that. And then we have to brace him with the real possibility that he won't have a leg."
Doctors have told Bridger's family to expect him to be in the hospital for months.
Luke says the man lighting the firework actually makes fireworks for a living and made this one at home. He suffered burns to his face, arms and chest and may have some hearing loss.
Police will turn their investigation over to prosecutors, who will determine what criminal charges may be filed.
For those who would like to help the Hunt family, a trust fund has been set up. You can donate at any Zions Bank branch in the name of Bridger Nathaniel Hunt.
E-mail: mgiauque@ksl.com
E-mail: spenrod@ksl.com
