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Man loses hand, fingers to firework
Valley Press ^ | on Monday, June 27, 2005. | PAMELA L. PAINE

Posted on 06/27/2005 9:27:29 AM PDT by BenLurkin

LANCASTER - A man lost his left hand and the thumb and two fingers of his right hand to an exploding firework Sunday evening in the 3500 block of West Avenue K-13, according to Capt. John Haugh of Fire Station 134. Shannon Powers, 30, was injured about 7:30 p.m. The device, originally described as a firecracker, was much more than that, Haugh said. He described it as something large, adding of the man's injuries, "It was ugly."

Haugh said Powers had "significant trauma as well as shrapnel injuries."

Sgt. Greg McHenry of the Lancaster Sheriff's Station said Powers, who has gang tattoos, identified himself as a former member of the Lancas gang.

McHenry said Powers was missing approximately seven of his digits, and the ones left were "not in good shape."

He said Powers apparently was "messing around with a small pyrotechnic," describing the device as a ball with a fuse. The device normally is inserted into a tube, but McHenry said Powers apparently decided not to use the tube and held onto the firework, believing it would shoot sparks.

Powers was taken to Antelope Valley Hospital, Supervising Fire Dispatcher Melanie Florez said.

Haugh said illegal fireworks had been reported throughout the day in that area, and Batallion 11's chief made contact with residents at or in the area of the home Saturday evening. Haugh believes it was the same residence where the incident occurred.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: California
KEYWORDS: cherrybombs; churchburners; fingerblasters; fuzzbuttles; gutbusters; holdmuhbeer; honkeylighters; hooskerdonts; hooskerdoos; kittychaser; ladyfingers; nipsydaisers; notasparkler; nubbs; orcrapflappers; scooterstick; snickerbombs; spleenspliters; whiskerbiscuits; whistlingbungholes; zippitydodas
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1 posted on 06/27/2005 9:27:30 AM PDT by BenLurkin
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To: BenLurkin
He said Powers apparently was "messing around with a small pyrotechnic," describing the device as a ball with a fuse. The device normally is inserted into a tube, but McHenry said Powers apparently decided not to use the tube and held onto the firework, believing it would shoot sparks.

No comment needed.

2 posted on 06/27/2005 9:29:13 AM PDT by scott7278 (Before I give you the benefit of my reply, I'd like to know what we're talking about.)
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To: BenLurkin

no fool like a damned fool


3 posted on 06/27/2005 9:29:28 AM PDT by camle (keep your mind open and somebody will fill it full of something for you.)
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To: BenLurkin

SHANNON: WHAT HAPPEN?
ER PHYSICIAN: YOU NOT KNOW WHAT YOU DOING.


4 posted on 06/27/2005 9:30:25 AM PDT by RichInOC (YOU SET UP YOU THE BOMB.)
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To: BenLurkin

It's all fun and games until someone loses their left hand and the thumb and two fingers of their right hand.


5 posted on 06/27/2005 9:30:31 AM PDT by michigander (The Constitution only guarantees the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.)
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To: BenLurkin

The first time I heard this story the press called it a sparkler.MSM idiots.


6 posted on 06/27/2005 9:30:43 AM PDT by VaRepublican
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To: BenLurkin

honorary mention for darwin award


7 posted on 06/27/2005 9:31:19 AM PDT by The Red Zone (Florida, the sun-shame state, and Illinois the chicken injun.)
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To: All

I think all gang members should follow his lead...too bad it didn't take his head instead of his hand.....


8 posted on 06/27/2005 9:32:32 AM PDT by Alright_on_the_LeftCoast
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To: scott7278

Fireworks, alcohol and an excuse to combine the two (4th of July) add up to some great candidates for the Darwin Awards every year.


9 posted on 06/27/2005 9:32:39 AM PDT by flixxx
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To: BenLurkin
Powers, who has gang tattoos, identified himself as a former member of the Lancas gang.

I wonder how many crimes that firecraker prevented.

10 posted on 06/27/2005 9:32:44 AM PDT by Paleo Conservative (Hey! Hey! Ho! Ho! Andrew Heyward's got to go!)
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To: BenLurkin
Powers apparently decided not to use the tube and held onto the firework, believing it would shoot sparks.

"I'm not really sure what this does, so I'll just hang on and see what happens."

11 posted on 06/27/2005 9:33:07 AM PDT by PBRSTREETGANG
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To: BenLurkin
Oh come on man. You got no lady fingers, fuzz buttles, snicker bombs, church burners, finger blasters, gut busters, zippity do das, or crap flappers?

No, I don't.

You're gonna stand there, owning a fireworks stand, and tell me you don't have no whistling bungholes, no spleen spliters, whisker biscuits, honkey lighters, hoosker doos, hoosker donts, cherry bombs, nipsy daisers, with or without the scooter stick, or one single whistling kitty chaser?

12 posted on 06/27/2005 9:33:32 AM PDT by steveo (Member: Fathers Against Rude Television)
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To: BenLurkin
held onto the firework, believing it would shoot sparks.

Instead it was shooting fingers.

13 posted on 06/27/2005 9:33:40 AM PDT by rabidralph
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To: BenLurkin

Each Fourth of July weekend, we should take all the blown off fingers and limbs from fireworks, and feed the bits to the sharks so they stop eating swimmers.


14 posted on 06/27/2005 9:34:40 AM PDT by dead (I've got my eye out for Mullah Omar.)
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To: steveo

No... because snakes and sparklers are the only ones I like.


15 posted on 06/27/2005 9:34:54 AM PDT by scott7278 (Before I give you the benefit of my reply, I'd like to know what we're talking about.)
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To: BenLurkin

Lesson learned or not, he'll not be holding anything again.


16 posted on 06/27/2005 9:34:54 AM PDT by mtbopfuyn (Legality does not dictate morality... Lavin)
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To: BenLurkin

Guess he won't be giving any gang signs any more.


17 posted on 06/27/2005 9:35:29 AM PDT by gg188
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To: BenLurkin
believing it would shoot sparks

Sparks,eh? I'd imagine he saw stars.

18 posted on 06/27/2005 9:35:40 AM PDT by csvset
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To: BenLurkin

Sounds like he had a typical "report" aerial firework. About the size of a tennis ball, and when launched, makes the loudest boom of a municipal-scale fireworks display (along with a bright flash).

He was probably holding it in the hand he lost, and was lighting with the other hand. Of course, they have fast fuses so that they can be electrically ingnited on cue from a control panel. The moment the flame lit the fuse, the launch charge went off. About two seconds later, it would have gone boom.


19 posted on 06/27/2005 9:35:44 AM PDT by Atlas Sneezed
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To: Beelzebubba
Bahaha...

Here, hold muh crack pipe and watch this!
20 posted on 06/27/2005 9:37:46 AM PDT by boofus
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