Posted on 10/23/2006 11:11:14 AM PDT by Squawk 8888
NEW MILFORD, Conn. (AP) - Investigators were trying to determine who tossed a beer keg into a burning barrel at a party, causing a deadly explosion that sent metal shards slicing through a crowd of people, police said.
The explosion early Sunday killed Sean Caselli, 22, of New Milford. Seven other people were taken to hospitals with burns and shrapnel wounds, police said. Caselli was struck in the neck by a piece of flying metal.
Police Sgt. Lee Grabner said investigators interviewed witnesses Sunday to try to identify the person who threw a quarter-keg of beer into the flames, and to determine whether criminal charges should be filed.
Fires had been set in several barrels to keep people warm at the outdoor party in western Connecticut, said Police Captain Michael Mrazik.
"This is a certain tragedy," said Police Chief Colin McCormack. "However, nothing I have been apprised of to this point in this investigation, which I caution is at the very early states, indicates a deliberate act on anyone's part."
Thankfully I had my FR-licensed snort-guard over my monitor & keyboard, but the plans on my desk got doused with Mt. Dew.
Me too.
But I have some physical scars from other acts of alcohol-fuelled stupidity.
Children, don't try this at home.
Because the valve was sturdier than the keg.
I guess heating them is rather different
Heating is rather different, because it causes a rupture by greatly increasing the pressure in the keg (it also weakens the metal somewhat). Shooting simply makes a hole. A heated container has a great deal more energy to dissipate.
WD40 is, itself, highly flammable. CO2 ain't got much to do with it.
Great way to go. I hope he had a bit first. sarc.
This is not the first time I have heard of a such an incident. Another article a couple of years ago, perhaps posted on FR, told of another poor soul who died after throwing a beer keg in a campfire.
Hairspray contains flammable propellant, beer kegs simply rupture violently from steam.
I've thrown away three cans in the last year because the propellant bled off while sitting on the shelf.
The propellant would not ignite until the can ruptured because there is no oxygen in the can for combustion while the can is sealed.
The can ruptured due to the Ideal Gas Law (PV = nRT), just like the keg.
I never said what you suggest; the rupture releases the flammable liquid and a flame front results with hairspray, which adds to the spectacle.
The spectacle isn't what killed the bystander. The explosion did.
What I meant to ask is whether that's standard.
A safety valve would have been nice.... But then, placing a keg in a fire really is "non-standard" as well.
ping
I was just about to ping you to see if you were OK!!!
A piece of shrapnel; explosions are usually accompanied by fire and beer doesn't burn that well.
Heat a can of beer and a can of spraypaint on the same burner and see which one "explodes" first.
ROFL!!! I keep my kegs in the kegerator, not in the fire.
Why, no, not at all. Go right ahead.
Otis - my man!!!
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