The findings of a preliminary autopsy on former Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks indicated Monday that he died Sunday of chest trauma from an errant fireworks blast. Kivlenieks was 24.
Earlier on Monday, the Blue Jackets announced Kivlenieks’ death in a “tragic accident.”
The Oakland County (Michigan) Medical Examiner’s office listed the official cause of death in the preliminary autopsy as “fireworks mortar blast, chest trauma.”
Police in Novi, Michigan, said a mortar-style firework tilted slightly and started to fire toward people nearby Sunday night. Kivlenieks was in a hot tub and tried to get clear with several other people, police Lt. Jason Meier said. Originally police said the young Latvian slipped and hit his head on concrete,
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