A 66-year-old man shot himself in both his legs Saturday afternoon while trying to loosen a stubborn lug nut with a 12-gauge shotgun.

Kitsap County sheriff's deputies were called to the residence on the 10800 block of SE Olympiad Drive at 2:57 p.m. after the shooting was reported to 911 emergency dispatchers, said Deputy Scott Wilson, a sheriff's office spokesman.

"Nobody else was there and he wasn't intoxicated," Wilson said.

South Kitsap Fire and Rescue medics treated the man at the scene. He was taken to Tacoma General Hospital. Wilson said his injuries were "severe but not life-threatening."

Deputies at the scene reported the man blasted "double-ought" buckshot at the wheel from "arm's length," Wilson said.

The deputies described the man's legs as "peppered" from his feet to his mid-abdomen with pellets, pieces of the wheel and other debris. Some injuries went as far up as his chin.

The man had been repairing the Lincoln Continental for two weeks, and had removed all the lug nuts on the right rear wheel except for one.

"He's bound and determined to get that lug nut off," Wilson said, who did not know how long the man had been trying to free the lug nut.

The deputies did not take a statement from the man beyond what they were able to gather while he was being treated by medics.

"I don't think he was in any condition to say anything," Wilson said. "The pain was so severe, and the shock."

Submitted on 11/11/2007

Submitted by: Liz
Reference: Kitsap Sun Newspaper, 11/11/07

Copyright © 2007 DarwinAwards.com

Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
There have been times that I've gotten frustrated over stuck bolts, but I have NEVER considered using a shotgun to try to loosen them. Hasn't this guy ever heard of WD-40 and a little elbow grease? Thanks, Liz!

James said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
Thanks, Liz! THIS one definitely gets an HM! I've wrassled with rusty lug nuts myself (NYC winters involve a lot of slush and salt, perfect for rusting lug nust) and yes, with enough effort they do eventually come loose! Finally, if I *HAD* to use ammunition to loosen a reluctant lug nut (which I wouldn't, but I'm playing Devil's Advocate here), I'd use a well-aimed 9mm round and NOT buckshot! Gadzooks, what stupidity!

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