A driver was killed after crashing into a Florida fireworks store that went up in flames after the impact on Monday.
John Marcano, 53, was driving an SUV along West New Haven Avenue in West Melbourne at 4:15 p.m. when he struck a Toyota, causing both cars to careen through an intersection and into the Phantom Fireworks store parking lot, officials told News 6.
Marcano crashed into the building, igniting the fireworks inside and causing the store to burst into flames, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Multiple fireworks and firecrackers can be heard going off inside the store as bright flames and thick smoke roll over the roof in a video posted by Brevard County Fire Rescue.
Crews “found heavy and rapidly deteriorating fire conditions with heavy involvement of the fireworks that were inside of the building,” the agency said.
All that is left of the building is a charred exterior.
Two Phantom Fireworks employees were working in the back of the store, but escaped after Marcano crashed inside, Florida Today reported.
Marcano was found dead at the scene.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Channing Taylor said the 39-year-old driver of the Toyota had pulled off to the side of the road to exchange information with Marcano after he struck her, but Marcano struck her again and pushed her through the intersection and into the parking lot.
“There will be an autopsy performed. Hopefully, the medical examiner will be able to shed light on that,” Taylor said. “The family was unable to provide any information that would explain what happened.”
The woman driving the Toyota was uninjured.
Marcano was on his way to pick up his two sons when he was killed, his cousin, Roxana Dominguez, said.
“He was just a funny and happy guy. He loved his wife, his children. Hard workers, working for the same company for 18 years,” Dominguez said.
