Fatal Florida car crash sends fireworks store up in flames

A driver was killed after crashing into a Florida fireworks store that caught fire after Monday’s impact.

John Marcano, 53, was driving an SUV along West New Haven Avenue in West Melbourne at 4.15pm when it hit a Toyota, causing the two cars to streak through an intersection and into the parking lot of the Phantom Fireworks store, said officials at News 6.

Marcano crashed into the building, igniting the fireworks inside and exploding the store into flames, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Several fireworks and firecrackers can be heard inside the store as bright flames and thick smoke roll across the roof in video released by Brevard County Fire Rescue.

Crews « found intense and rapidly deteriorating fire conditions with heavy involvement from fireworks that were inside the building, » the agency said.

All that remains of the building is a charred exterior.

Two Phantom Fireworks employees were working in the back of the store but escaped after Marcano crashed inside, Florida Today reported.

Marcano was found dead at the scene.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Channing Taylor said the 39-year-old driver of the Toyota pulled over to the side of the road to exchange information with Marcano after hitting her, but Marcano hit her. punched her again and pushed her through the intersection and into the parking lot.

“An autopsy will be performed. Hopefully the medical examiner will be able to shed some light on this,” Taylor said. « The family has not been able to provide any information that would explain what happened. »

The woman driving the Toyota was not injured.

Marcano was on his way to pick up his two sons when he was killed, his cousin, Roxana Dominguez, said.

« He was just a funny, happy guy. He loved his wife, his kids. Hard-working, working for the same company for 18 years, » Dominguez said.