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2008 December Rejects
Stand Clear, Doors Closing.
Merry-go-ouch
The DR is not very smart
Indoor Barbeque
Gas explosion
A church organist was found dead at
Parenting requires intelligence
Santa Shooter
Swimming Snowplow
Wrong Heater Fuel Blamed for Killer
Boat ramp blunder
Do not urinate on the rails!
Shockingly Stupid
The apprentice assassine
Train of mistakes !
Lonely man finds bear nuts
Man lights 50 sparklers at once
A burning desire to impress
dying for a smoke
Smoker on ventilator burned
Bandit shoots off ‘private part’
Big bang, small brain.
Taking a leak on railway tracks
Railtracks =/= Toilet
Call of nature answered on railway
Bahngleis als Toilette benutzt
Deadly Dump on Rails
man jumps from bridge to avoid semi
Don't smoke with oxygen
Flamin' hot partytrick
Daredevil's fatal plunge.
We don't sell tobacco to minors.
death by condom and laughing gas
Mom Killed, Son Hurt By Train
Man, Machine & Manure Lagoon
lodged snow blower
Trashed
A Wrong Way to Use a Blowtorch
the exploding women
How NOT to melt ice.
Man using cutting torch to thaw ice
Ice Breaker
Couple gets lost in snow after trip
Impaled
Kids watch as dad is electrocuted
Man melting snow with blowtorch ign
Kite+Power lines+Metal pole=Safe?
Blowtorch Man
Man melting snow with blowtorch ign
Man uses blowtorch to melt snow
Ambulance Fail
Mass. man melting snow with blowtor
The Kite Hunter
Man lights home on fire
Man melting snow with blowtorch ign
http://www.southcoasttoday.com
Hardcore rocker strangles himself o
The Icecapade!
Hunter & Deer Fall to their Deaths
When anger backfiress
Two potential darwins
Son watches father receive a Darwin
A total shock
Newton he ain't!
Shocking!
Weiner Slips and Dies
Kite electrocution
Woman dies in trash compactor
father electrocuted in front of kid
Kite + Metal Pole + Power Lines
Metal pole and powerlines
Man dies getting kite off power lin
Man Killed Rescuing Kite
Kite Zapping
Electrocuted Retrieving Kite
Man dies getting kite off power lin
Man electrocuted while fetching kit
Kite a shocking story
Motorcycle rear ends truck
Lonely man jumps into polar bear’s
Man steps into elevator shaft
Youth loses face in explosive sex a
Mouse's Revenge
Man steps into elevator shaft
Accidentally stabbed to death
Evidence Left at Crime Scene
Two arrested in bizarre assault
delieverence 2008
Teen injured in sledding accident
Historical Darwin
Womans set Husband Genitals on Fire
SoCal Woman Stuck on Tracks Called
Inadequate Training
Drew peterson's ladies
SoCal Woman Stuck on Tracks Called
Stuck on Train Tracks, Called 911
Woman Stuck on Tracks Called 911
FATAL FIRE
SoCal Woman Stuck on Tracks Called
Drew Peterson New Fiancee
Three people killed by foot massage
Three young women found dead at Squ
Wiggle It
teenager who choked himself
stalker victim
Benton City burglar dies in fire he
Blast at Oregon Bank Kills 2 Law En
ATM kills woman
Over the top Stalkee..
It's the coverup, not the crime
Burglar, Burglar, House on Fire
Unusual death
Lets take the bomb inside the bank!
Video shows ATM death was accident
blow torches and teachers don't mix
flying vendore
Man accidentally kills himself with
Special Award for G.W. Bush
Gregory Wayne Fisher
Family cat attacks family jewels
bomb technician
Bomb Investigation gone wrong
The battle of La Marfée
Bank blast kills officer, bomb expe
iPod + Train
man raises temperature of testicles
Two Officers Die of Injuries From a
Another Blue Day
Keep Eyes and Ears on the Road
perfect example of a darwin award
Mood light & gas don't Mix
Steeler comes a copper...
Riding Handrail Leads to Death
Dieter tries to outdo whale
1guy1cup
Copper theft man killed by fumes
Man Cuts His Own Throat on Stage
Young dies playing of roulette-Russ
Man dies during copper theft
Idiot
Moped driver collides wi mailbox
Big Finish
Man kills himself playing Russian R
Man's arm amputated after collision
Kidding with a gun shooted his head
Though it was unloaded
Pointed pants
Russian Roulete ends in death
Man lights cigarette, sets face on
Man lights cigarette, sets face on
Lift shafts
You Left The Clubs Too Late.
Teen killed, 2 men wounded in chase
A Bridge to Nowhere
Dead In the Water
Now That's A Strong Drink
I Hope He Burns for What He Did!
Setting the School Aflame
Gunman on bike hit, killed on Truma
Mushroom Madness
Gunman on bike hit, killed on Truma
Gunman on bike hit, killed on Truma
Suburban indoor barbeque
A tender behind
Kareoke Croakie
Boy Decapitated at Six Flags
8yr old boy with UZI
Managing director uses live bomb fo
Don't hide here
Woman swept to sea during proposal
Crossing: look left and right
Drink driver ran over himself
Man Killed Stealing Wire
Wrong Way Wreck Wreaks Woe
Gypsy Bang
Man fatally stricken while carrying
Deer gets revenge
Speed Camera racer
Texting on Cell, Killed by Train
WHEELIE, I CAN DO THIS!
Trampled by Bargain Seeker
pig headed safety lesson
Father Shoots Son With Shotgun
(Almost) Gone 2 the Dogs
just a picture
Man run over by own van
Speed Bump Daddy
Both Vehicles Were Stolen
Accident with Samurai Sword
Hard Cider Makes for a Hard Swim
No arms, No problem
Man drowns in storm drain trying to
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Darwin Awards
2008 Slush Pile

This item was recently submitted by a reader.
Should I include it in the archive?
Vote to tell me what *you* think!

The Icecapade!

2008 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

***Honorable Mention, but I figured he deserved a Darwin for making 3 families homeless 2 days before Christmas***

NEW BEDFORD — A home-owner using a blowtorch to melt ice on his back porch accidentally set fire to his North End triple-decker Monday, officials said.

The blaze at 107 Davis St. caused $20,000-$30,000 worth of damage and displaced several residents, Fire Capt. Scott Kruger said.

Those who were home escaped safely after being alerted by smoke alarms, he said.

Firefighters responding to the call around 1:39 p.m. saw flames and smoke coming from the tenement's second and third floors. It took 25 firefighters about 30 minutes to subdue the fire.

Snow and ice hampered the fire trucks' mobility. Firefighters guarded against hoses freezing and prevented streets from icing over from the running water.

Capt. Kruger said the building's owner was trying to melt the snow and ice on the back porch using a large torch hooked up to a 20-pound propane cylinder.

He got too close to the building's wood frame and ignited the vinyl siding. The fire quickly spread into the building's uninsulated exterior wall and chased into the second and third-floor apartments, Capt. Kruger said.

The fire damaged the rear bedrooms in the second- and third-floor apartments, and caused extensive damage to the structure and electrical wiring.

Occupants have all made alternative housing arrangements.

No firefighters were injured.

The homeowner will not be charged in the accidental fire.

"This is an example of how you should not use a cutting torch to thaw out frozen water pipes or anything else," he said. "When you have wood framing, it will cause a fire."

Submitted on 12/23/2008

Submitted by: Eric
Reference: http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081223/NEWS/812230349 12/23/08

Copyright © 2008 DarwinAwards.com

>> Moderator Scores <<

Bruce said:
Definitely Toss: Not Amusing
This time of year when frigid weather wreaks havoc with power, plumbing, etc. it becomes all too common to hear of such stories. I don't find anything amusing about this, especially since it left three families homeless just before Christmas. Thanks just the same, Eric.


Candi said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
No one was injured, and the idea of using the fairly thin flame of a blowtorch to melt the ice and snow on ANY size porch is just too cartoonny! Yes, it's sad that the apartments were damaged, but between relatives and (speaking from when I LIVED in an apartment complex!*) the apartment management's desire to help their 'customers', they'll most likely be fine! Thanks, Eric and submit again! *(Neighboring building, sewer latch failure, backup of sewer junk.)


James said:
Definitely Toss: Not Amusing
I'm inclined to agree with Bruce. The weather was pretty harsh, and I'll wager this "method" has been used before! Thanks just the same, Eric!


Graham said:
Definitely Toss: Not Amusing
This just goes to show that Man's stupidity knows no limits! As mentioned though, this does have good cartoon value. Shame the families were made homeless at Christmas time . . .


Shadow said:
Definitely Toss: Not Amusing
He is lucky we dont expel this one on bystanders hurt.. no one got hurt according to this report. But certainly he caused something that could have.


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