Sparta teens injured when fireworks explode - FOX 25/48 - WLAX/WEUX La Crosse & Eau Claire News

SPARTA, Wis - Sparta police say a prank gone wrong severely injured five boys from Sparta High School.

According to the Monroe Sheriffs department: Devin Johnson, Julius Julson, Steven Kelly, Tyler Foster and Kendrick Jackson where the five boys in the car. They are all 17 years old, and investigators believe they were playing with fireworks when one went off inside the car at 5 a.m. Monday.

The driver Johnson, managed to drive to the Sparta hospital despite his injuries. Sparta police said they don't know how extensive the injuries are or how the boys are doing now, but Chief Kass said that the injuries appeared to be fairly severe.

Four helicopters landed around the city to transport the boys. One helicopter landed just feet away from Mary Jane McMullins house at the high school soccer field. She said that she heard the helicopters, but didn't think to go out and look.

"At about 5 a.m. the morning I heard a helicopter going to Franciscan Skemp and at 5:30 a.m. it left. Then I heard another one at a quarter to 7 a.m." said McMullin.

McMullin was shocked to hear why she was hearing so many helicopters in the morning.

"I can't believe it. I can't believe 5 young boys would be up at that time in the morning and I also can't believe they'd be lighting firecrackers off in a car," said McMullin.

Sparta Police Chief Mike Kass said that the boys were not playing with small fireworks.

"These fireworks were not intended for the general public. These were illegal fireworks fairly large in size," said Kass.

Assistant Sparta Fire Chief Scott Perkins said that it's lucky these boys made it out alive.

"Fireworks obviously can do a lot of damage to the car such as starting it on fire, and burn people from the most minor to the most severe burn" said Perkins.

We will keep you updated when more information about the boys conditions is released.