Two people in Bridgeville, Delaware were injured when a machine at a “punkin chunkin” contest exploded. Competitors in the contest see who can launch pumpkins the greatest distance using homemade contraptions, many of which are air-powered cannons with very long barrels.
A producer for the Sharp television production company, which was filming a show about the contest, was injured when one of the launchers exploded. The woman, 39, was hospitalized with critical injuries after being struck by debris. A 56-year-old man, who was also struck by debris, sustained injuries that were not life-threatening.
Daivd Aronson, of Falls Church, Virginia, who attended the event, told 6 ABC Action News that he was about 25 yards behind the cannon when it exploded hurling a piece the size of a car door at the woman. She was airlifted to a hospital.
Organizers had to cancel the contest the last two years because they could not find insurance. An investigation of the incident is ongoing.
Sources:
http://6abc.com/news/woman-critical-after-explosion-at-punkin-chunkin-contest-in-del-/1592947/