UPDATED: SC Man Charged For Fireworks Blast That Severely Hurt Teen

***4:30 p.m. Update July 9***

SC Man Charged For Fireworks Blast That Hurt Teen

ANDERSON, S.C. (AP) - A 22-year-old South Carolina man has been charged after a bundle of more than 100 sparklers exploded, causing a teen to lose his hand and severely injure his legs.

Multiple media outlets reported Thursday that Robert Stephen Spicer of Easley faces up to five years in prison on a felony charge of making an incendiary device.

Authorities say the explosion happened July 2 when more than 100 sparklers were tied together and were ignited.

Fifteen-year-old Ryan Stancell of Anderson County remains in a Greenville hospital after losing a hand and sustaining serious injuries to his legs.

Spicer’s family has said the explosion was an accident. A bond hearing was expected Thursday for Spicer. It was unclear if he has an attorney.

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***1:40 a.m. Update July 4***

Greenville, SC—Fifteen-year-old Ryan Stancell has lost his hand and most likely have to have both legs amputated after a fireworks accident Thursday night.

He is currently at Greenville Memorial Hospital with sever burns on his chest and will need skin graphs according to his mother. She said they do think he will survive.

Neighbor Perry Oakley said he felt the shock inside his house when the explosive went off, and ran to help.

“I was completely shocked out,“ said Oakley. “There was a nurse at the end of the road and if it wasn’t for her, I don’t know what the kid would have done. She got us to take our belts off and create tourniquets for him.“

Oakley said even more shocking, the explosion was caused by sparklers.

“It was a sparkler. Those are $.25 a box and most people would never think that would cause the damage that it was capable of,“ said Oakley.

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Office said there were possibly more than 100 sparklers gathered together, creating what’s called a sparkler bomb. It creates tremendous explosive power, according to the Anderson County Fire Department Chief.

“Anytime you alter a firework and use it for anything it’s not supposed to be used for, it’s a recipe for disaster.“

The fire chief says the investigation is still open and charges could be filed, because it is against the law to alter an explosive device. He says the boy was with a 21 year old at the time.

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Greenville, SC—Fifteen-year-old Ryan Stancell has lost his hand and most likely have to have both legs amputated after a fireworks accident Thursday night.

Stancell is currently at Greenville Memorial Hospital with sever burns on his chest and will need skin grafts, according to his mother. She says they do think he will survive.

A next-door neighbor says he felt the shock inside his house when the explosive went off.

The fire chief says the investigation is still open. He says the boy was with a 21-year-old at the time of the accident.

The chief says the firework that was created is considered an explosive device.