BALTIMORE (AP) — A performer at a monster truck exhibition died after fireworks strapped to his chest blew up, officials said Sunday.

Robert Murphy, 36, was wearing a device at the show Saturday designed to shoot sparks during an intermission anti-drug skit.

“The night before it was sparklers that shot out of his chest and this time it was sparklers that you could see like explode in his chest, or whatever, and he fell down,” said Charles Reynolds, a witness.

The impact of the blast shot a small piece of sheet metal, designed to act as a shield, into Murphy’s chest.

Murphy appeared dressed as an alien representing the evils of drugs. A robot car was to have pretended to shoot him, then the sparks would have flown from his chest.

“The act has been performed many times and has been 100 percent perfect,” said Newd Walliser, the show’s event director.

On March 7, a spectator was killed at a monster truck show in New York when a truck careened into the crowd.