The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma said a man who was critically injured during a July 2 fire and fireworks explosion in Tuskahoma has died.
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Chief Gary Batton said the tribe is grieving the loss of 22-year-old Ely Smith from Vian.
“We are sincerely saddened to hear of the passing of Ely Smith. As a nation, we grieve this loss and pray for his family and friends, as well as for the others who are recovering from their injuries,” Batton said.
Batton said the investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
“Prayers for all the families impacted,” Batton said.
A GoFundMe for funeral expenses has raised more than $5,800 with a goal of $8,000 as of Wednesday afternoon.
The GoFundMe can be found here: https://gofund.me/85cadff7
A total of five people were injured during the July 2 incident on the tribe’s Capitol Grounds in Tuskahoma. The incident occurred as the company, Hance Pyrotechnics, was doing preparations for the tribe’s annual Boom in the Valley fireworks show.
Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police Chief Mike Woodruff said in a July 3 press conference that three of the five people injured were flown via medical helicopter with serious burns and other injuries. The other two people were treated and released from a local hospital.
Woodruff said the five injured were employees of the company hired by the tribe for its annual Boom in the Valley fireworks show.
Woodruff said a cabin on the Capitol Grounds and a vehicle owned by one of the employees were damaged in the incident.
Investigators from the tribe’s fire department and Lighthorse are conducting the investigation, according to Woodruff.