POSTED: 8:00 pm EST December 8, 2006 UPDATED: 8:22 pm EST December 8, 2006

LAVONIA, Ga. -- A woman staying at a northeast Georgia motel this week shot herself while trying to light a cigarette -- with a loaded pistol.

Police said Olivia Hutcherson, 21, had been arrested for fighting at a Waffle House in Lavonia shortly before she shot herself in the hand with a .22-caliber pistol.

Lavonia Police Chief Randy Shirley said Hutcherson was staying with two other people at a Best Western motel at about 6 a.m. on Sunday. He said that when she reached onto a nightstand for what she thought was a lighter, she instead grabbed a pistol owned by Bobby Brown, 56, of Royston.

About 90 minutes earlier, police reports said Hutcherson had slapped a man in the face three times after she said he touched her inappropriately.

Five witnesses told police they never saw the man touch her.

Submitted on 12/09/2006

Submitted by: zxcar
Reference: http://www.wsbtv.com/news/1049

Copyright © 2006 DarwinAwards.com

Graham said:
Maybe Toss: Other
How on earth does ANYONE mistake a full-sized .22 pistol for a cigarette lighter? Sounds to me she hadn't quite sobered up yet! Oh, is that a squirrel at my window? No, it's just a geographicaly challenged Timber wolf.....

James said:
Neutral: Other
Since there's no mention of alcohol, I will consider this one! I agree that it is damn near impossible to mistake a pistol for a lighter! The reason I like it is because it is so cartoony! Unfortunately it falls short of an HM, but it is funny enough, IMO, to share with the readers!

Jack said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention
And have you never seen a cigarette lighter in the form of a pistol? I used to have one in the shape of a hand grenade - pull the pin and the top popped up and there was the flame.

Shadow said:
Neutral: Other
I have seen the lighters shaped like pistols definately no way to confuse the two in my mind!

Chip said:
Maybe Toss: Other
I have seen gun-shaped lighters and there is no way to confuse the two. This story is unlikely. Thanks for the submission though.

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