Blue Jackets’ Matiss Kivlenieks dies in fireworks-related accident aged 24

• Kivlenieks, 24, dies from errant fireworks mortar blast
• Latvian Hockey Federation confirmed death on Monday
• Police initially said Kivlenieks died from head injury

Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks died of chest trauma from an errant fireworks mortar blast in what authorities described Monday as a tragic accident on the Fourth of July.

Police in Novi, Michigan, said the firework tilted slightly and started to fire toward people nearby Sunday night. The 24-year-old Kivlenieks was in a hot tub and tried to get clear with several other people, police lieutenant Jason Meier said. Authorities earlier said the Lativan had died of an apparent head injury during a fall, but an autopsy clarified the cause of death.