Fireworks stunt at party causes severe burns

"By Lanetta J. Williams lwilliams@heraldt.com August 15, 2006

A 21-year-old man suffered severe burns to the face and head over the weekend after he taped a mortar-style firework to an old football helmet, put it on his head and lit it.

Kaleb E. Spangler, of 543 E. Graham Place, was injured at about 3 a.m. Saturday while attending a party somewhere between Nashville and Bloomington, his girlfriend said.

According to Bloomington Police Detective Sgt. David Drake, reading from a report, an ambulance was dispatched to the BP gas station on the corner of East Third Street and Park Ridge Road in regard to a person injured in a fireworks accident.

When officers and medical staff arrived, they found Spangler in the back seat of a car, covered in blood and unconscious. He had burn marks on his face and lacerations on his head, and his right eye was swollen shut, Drake said.

According to an 18-year-old woman described as his girlfriend, Spangler had been at a party off Ind. 46 when the incident occurred.

She said he was drinking and that people were setting off fireworks when Spangler decided to take an old football helmet and duct tape a large firework to the top of it. He then put the helmet on and lit the firework.

Drake said that according to the girlfriend, there was a very large flash of light that was so bright she looked away.

When she looked back, she saw Spangler on the ground, unconscious and bleeding from the head. The helmet was blown to pieces.

The woman said she didn’t have any idea where they were, so she asked others at the party to help load Spangler into the back of a vehicle and then drove to Bloomington, where they stopped at a business and called an ambulance.

Spangler was transported to Bloomington Hospital, where he was treated for burns on the face, lacerations and a concussion, Drake said."

Submitted on 08/15/2006

Submitted by: Rich Sorg
Reference: Herald Times, 08-15-06

Copyright © 2006 DarwinAwards.com

James said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
There are a lot of brave men and women in harm's way right now attempting to avoid being blown up. So what does this jamoke do??? I am still trying to swallow this story whole! He could have blown his noggin clean off his neck! QUE stupid! This fool deserves an HM, and it will make a fine illustration as well (if I can get to it)! :-)

Fitzroy said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
Fireworks injuries are too common by far. Yet this was not an accident caused by a short fuse or errant toss. The particulars make it truly spectacular to me. Also, yeah, the imagery on this could be outstanding.

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