CAPE CORAL, FL – A deadly incident involving a tire explosion claimed the life of an employee at a Firestone store on Sunday afternoon, according to the Cape Coral Police Department. The incident occurred in the Firestone located on Skyline Boulevard in Cape Coral, Florida.
While law enforcement officials have confirmed that the explosion resulted in one fatality, they have yet to report any additional injuries. The investigation is still ongoing.
One anonymous witness of the aftermath shared their account of the fatal scene. According to the witness, other onlookers likely dismissed the explosion sound as thunder until the arrival of police and ambulance vehicles indicated otherwise. The witness also recounted hearing screams following the explosion.
In response to the tragic incident, Firestone expressed their condolences in an official statement. “Our deepest, most heartfelt sympathies are with the family, friends and colleagues of our teammate,” the company said. In addition to the statement, the company added that they are actively cooperating with local authorities in the ongoing investigation to determine the accident’s cause.
Forensics detectives from Cape Coral remain at the scene as the investigation continues. As a result, the Firestone store will remain closed on Monday. The timeline of their reopening is still undecided.