Firework explodes in boy’s face, injuring eye
GLENROCK (WNE) — While many celebrated the Fourth of July together at South Rec Saturday night with positive outcomes, Lavon Wells, 12, and his family had a very different holiday when a random firework detonated in his eye.
“Everyone was lighting fireworks, and then out of the blue there was a mortar firework that was either thrown, or it could have fallen from someone else’s area, and shot in our group,” Wells’ mother, Katrina Pergande, said. The Casper family visited Glenrock to enjoy the fireworks.
“It hit my oldest son’s leg, and it burned him. Then it bounced off of him and hit Lavon in the eye, and at that time it exploded.”
The explosion left the boy with burns both around his eye and severely injured his left eye.
“He has a film over his eye, it’s from trauma, so he can’t see too well. The doctors cannot see inside of his eye either with an eye exam. They’ve been giving him steroid treatments every hour to two hours, different drops to help clear that film and hopefully be able to do a proper eye exam,” Pergande said.
Even with the steroid treatments, Wells’ eye will never be the same.
The exact turn of events and where the mortar came from is under investigation by Glenrock Police Department, but Pergande and Wells question whether or not the firework landed there by accident.
In addition to their search for answers, the pair also hope the tragedy serves as a wake up call for the community and the fire department, to implement stricter protocols and enforcement of the rules.
Pergande and Wells have started a GoFundMe to help cover medical treatment not covered by insurance, in addition to travel to and from Denver, housing and more. The fundraiser has garnered $4,145 of their $5,000 goal as of July 6. Pergande said she is truly appreciative of how the community has rallied around them in their time of need.
This story was published on July 8, 2026.
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