Darwin says, "Accepted into the Archive, as a potential Darwin Award (depending on whether the survivor retains his ability to reproduce.)"

Teen admits firecracker caused him to lose hand, leg
Wednesday, January 28, 2009 The Associated Press Police say a Westmoreland County boy who lost his right hand and leg in an explosion has acknowledged playing with a powerful firework and was not targeted or threatened as he first told police.

Latrobe police say the 17-year-old boy was playing with a large firecracker like an M-80 in his grandmother's house Jan. 10.

The boy kept lighting and extinguishing the fuse and, when it wouldn't go out, he put the firework between his thighs and covered it with his right hand in hopes of muffling the explosion, police said.

The boy remains in a Pittsburgh hospital with severe injuries to his left leg.

Police say the boy first told them the explosive blew up in a backpack after he was the target of threats from unknown people.

LATROBE, Pa. -- A Westmoreland County teenager had his right hand and left leg amputated after playing with explosives, authorities said. Wesley Kimmick, 17, of Latrobe, remains hospitalized at UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh after the explosion Saturday afternoon at his grandmother's home.

"There was a quarter stick of dynamite in the house where he was staying, and he got a hold of it and it blew him up basically," said his mother, Heather Adams.

Authorities said they're not sure what exploded and are investigating.

The blast occurred in Latrobe along Lloyd Avenue around 2:30 p.m. Saturday, police said. Kimmick's uncle, Tony Adams, said Kimmick was in the bedroom when he removed the object from his backpack and it exploded unexpectedly.

Edward Adams, father of the victim, said, "If you ask him questions he'll nod his head 'yes' or 'no' because he has a tube in his mouth right now. I don't think he's aware of what happened yet."

Adams, who said he's going to find out where Wesley got the dynamite from, said investigators questioned him Monday about what he knows about the explosive device.

Wesley is a student at Derry High School and had plans to enlist the army. (Note by Wendy: he was elsewhere described as a dropout.

Copyright 2009 by WPXI.com. All rights reserved.

Submitted on 01/28/2009

Submitted by: Anonymous
Reference: WPXI News, Associated Press, 1/28/09

Copyright © 2009 DarwinAwards.com

Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
He kept lighting and extinguishing the fuse? What did he expect would eventually happen? This almost sounds like a variation of Russian Roulette with a firecracker instead of a gun. And trying to muffle something roughly the size of a film canister with his body? Gadzooks what was he thinking? Thanks for the submission!

Candi said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
I agree with Bruce! Idiot!

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