Lit firework thrown from truck in Waterloo

Police are looking for the person who threw a lit firework at someone in Waterloo. CTV’s Karis Mapp has more the dangerous situation.

Waterloo Regional Police say a firework was thrown from a moving truck at a person sitting on a bench in Uptown Waterloo.

The incident happened around 2:40 a.m. Sunday near King Street South and Willis Way.

Police said the firework was tossed from the front passenger seat of a black pickup truck and landed on the victim’s lap, but did not go off. The vehicle did not stop.

“The individual did not sustain any injuries, and we were able to seize the firework for further processing to assist with the investigation,” Const. Melissa Quarrie said Monday.

The person who threw the firework was described as a white male, wearing a white hat and black t-shirt.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any other information that could help with the investigation can contact police at 519-570-977, ext. 6399.

Painful Canada Day memory

Sunday’s incident brought up bad memories for Waterloo Councillor Julie Wright.

Last year, on Canada Day, she was walking home from a drone show in Waterloo Park when she had her own close encounter.

“There was an individual in the bushes, in a school yard, lighting up roman candles,” she recalled. “When I stopped to talk to them, they shot me in the face with a firework.”

Wright called the recent incident “a shock to the system.”

“Fireworks, when, lit can be used as a weapon,” Quarrie said. “They can cause serious injury, to both the user and to people in the area.”

Anyone using fireworks beyond their intended purpose could be charged with assault, assault with a weapon, mischief or other bylaw charges.

Fireworks sales ban

Starting in 2026, it will a little more difficult to buy fireworks.

Both Kitchener and Waterloo have decided to ban sales within city limits.

“The idea behind that is that it takes away some of that impulsive, ‘I’m going to out to the corner store, buy a bunch of random candles and set them off,’” Wright explained.

In terms of setting off fireworks for Canada Day, they are only permitted in Kitchener and Waterloo between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m.