Columbus Blue Jackets Goalie Killed by Fireworks

Click Orlando reports that Columbus Blue Jackets Goalie,24-year-old Matiss Kivlenieks of Latvia, was killed at his home in Michigan when an errant 4th of July fireworks mortar blast hit him in the chest.

On Tuesday, July 6, 2021, officials released the audio of the 911 call. On the call, a woman tells the dispatcher that there was a nurse at the accident scene and that Kivlenieks was breathing, but he wasn’t doing well and was close to going into convulsions.

According to police Lt. Jason Meier, the incident happened at approximately 10:00 p.m. at Kivlenieks’ home located just 28 miles northwest of Detroit, Michigan. The July 4 event was widely attended by friends and fans and had not been going very long after the accident.

Kivlenieks was rushed from his home in Novi to an area hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries. Authorities say that he was pronounced dead shortly after he arrived at the trauma center.

Investigators say that the missile that struck Kivlenieks was part of nine-shot firework. Kivlenieks had been in a hot tub and attempted to get out of the way of the out-of-control rocket. The missile struck him, and he was knocked to the ground.

Police told reporters in a statement that the hockey player had been staying with the homeowner for training. They declined to release the name of the property owner.

The accident is currently under investigation.