Teenager Killed and 24 Injured After Fireworks Explode During Mexican Religious Procession

A religious procession in Cuautitlán Izcalli, Mexico, ended in tragedy after a vehicle carrying fireworks exploded, killing a teenager and sending dozens of people to hospitals for medical treatment.

The explosion occurred Thursday, September 24, during patron-saint festivities in the San Francisco Tepojaco community. The fireworks were being transported in a private vehicle as the procession moved along Aldama Street. Videos published by Mexican media show the sudden explosion and people fleeing the area as flames and debris spread from the vehicle.

The victim was identified by local reports as Alejandro González Trejo, a teenager whose age was reported as approximately 15 or 16. He suffered severe injuries and burns and was taken to the IMSS Hospital of Traumatology and Orthopedics in Lomas Verdes, where he later died.

Initial reports placed the number of injured at roughly 10 to 12 people. However, after authorities conducted a broader check with hospitals, the municipality said 24 people had received medical attention, including 12 minors. The patients were treated at several hospitals and medical facilities in the area.

The explosion reportedly occurred when fireworks being transported near the procession ignited. Early accounts have described possible scenarios involving fireworks entering the vehicle, but authorities have not established an official cause for the explosion. The investigation is being handled by the State of Mexico Attorney General’s Office.

Cuautitlán Izcalli officials also said the procession was not included in the permit application then being processed for the community’s larger patron-saint celebrations. Mayor Daniel Serrano said the municipal government had not authorized the use of fireworks for the procession and emphasized that pyrotechnic activities require appropriate safety and civil-protection measures.

The incident has raised questions about how the fireworks were transported and used during the procession. Municipal officials said a private individual had subsequently appeared before authorities claiming to represent the people who had acquired the pyrotechnic materials. Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the event.

Alejandro was remembered in local reports as a young member of the San Francisco Tepojaco community who served as an altar boy and enjoyed soccer. His death has added to the grief surrounding an event that had been intended as part of a religious celebration.

The investigation remains active, and authorities have not yet released a final determination regarding what caused the fireworks to ignite or whether anyone will face criminal charges. The number of people receiving medical care may also change as hospitals continue to monitor those injured in the explosion.

Source: NY Post