A man in Kosciusko County was seriously injured when a firecracker exploded in his hand before he could throw it.

Police in Pierceton say the 20-year old was in the passenger seat of a vehicle with a woman and another man.

They reportedly intended to throw the firecracker at people they knew in the vehicle behind them. The woman lit the firecracker in his hand and it exploded before he could throw it.

Officials say the man lost his left hand in the blast, suffered burns to his chest, and there was damage to the car as well. He was airlifted to a hospital in Fort Wayne.