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Police Say Billings Man Set Off Fireworks That Killed Him

Nathan Vannatta was lighting mortars Saturday when one of them didn't ignite properly

By Molly Priddy

BILLINGS — Police say a Billings man who was killed in a fireworks accident on July 4 held the tube that launched the mortar-type explosives.

Lt. Casey Hafner tells the Billings Gazette that 32-year-old Nathan Vannatta was lighting mortars Saturday when one of them didn’t ignite properly.

Hafner says Vannatta turned the tube to look inside when the stalled mortar went off.

Coroner Lt. Bill Jones says Vannatta of Billings died of blunt force trauma to the neck.

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