Scrap Worker Accidentally Fires Howitzer

Yahoo/Reuters ^ | 9-13-02

[SJackson]

KIEV (Reuters) - A Ukrainian scrap metal worker destroyed two roofs and singed his face when he cut into a 1940s howitzer and accidentally fired off a shell no one had noticed was lodged inside, local media reported Thursday.

Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported the worker had heated the metal by cutting the gun and had triggered the shell, which flew about 800 yards. It said there were no other casualties in the central Ukrainian city of Berdychiv.

The news agency also said the company had paid for repairs to the roofs but work at the scrap yard had been stopped after local prosecutors launched a criminal investigation.

Ukraine, situated between Russia and an expanding European Union ( news - web sites), has a huge arsenal of rusting weapons, which often end up in the country's dozens of scrap yards.

[SSN558]

"I've heard stories about guys using cutting torches on old gas tanks and blowing themselves to smithereens,it helps to take a good careful look at what your working on."

I saw it happen. I was working at a scrap metal yard while still in school and this guy, a drug addict, cut into a gas tank on an old 1940's flatbed truck. that old gasoline blew up real good !!! It shook the building and sent up a black mushroom cloud. The moron got caught by the police in the bathroom shooting up H, when they couldn't find him in the yard to make a report. doh !

[Rocksalt]

Yeah there was an incident in my area where a guy was cutting a large fuel storage tank up with a cutting torch and it about blew the whole neighborhood up.It was a rural area,luckily there were few neighbors.I've heard of more than one like that around here.Pays to be careful.

[justsomedude]

see. even unilateral disarmament isn't without its risks.

[justsomedude]

a guy was cutting a large fuel storage tank up with a cutting

I thought everyone knew not to do that....

[justsomedude]

So who are the guys in charge of disassembling their nuclear warheads ?

Very thought provoking indeed.

[Rocksalt]

There's always plenty of people out there without a lick of common sense. I've seen people prime a carb on a truck with gas and not put the air cleaner back on before they tried it and get some real interesting results. I'm always nervous when a 16 year old kid is filling up a propane tank at a gas station for me-lotta potential there.

[justsomedude]

I'm always nervous when a 16 year old kid is filling up a propane tank at a gas station for me-lotta potential there.

It might just put the fear of God in a guy.

[Rocksalt]

Why just the other day I had a kid fiddling around with a propane tank at the gas station and it took him five or ten minutes just to get the filling process started. I finally had to tell him how to do it myself.And since the majority of gas station attendants are about 16,the odds of a mishap probobly go up do to this. I don't hear of alot of big explosions due to this,but it's always in the back of ones mind. In reality,I'm sure we stand much more chance of getting killed by a 16 year old inexperienced driver behind the wheel of a 2000 lb. torpedo.

[justsomedude]

Life is so fraught with risk.

[Rocksalt]

Opening day of deer season around here is pretty much one day in the woods where exercising maximum caution is in order.Can't have enough orange on for the first week or so.

[justsomedude]

Can't have enough orange on for the first week or so.

Lots of laughs on this one. Thanks.

[LibKill]

DOH!!!

[Rocksalt]

Around here the state cops put out those fake deer and try and catch poachers out spotlighting deer at night. As soon as one party of poachers gets done blasting the decoys,they bust them and send them on their way. Many times it's only a few short minutes until the next party comes along.This goes on all night long in many cases,and the cops have to frequently replace the decoys.Of course the state cashes in all along the way.

[LibKill]

After further thought, it was stupid to give the cannon to a poor slob for cutting without checking the breech first.

[justsomedude]

Of course the state cashes in all along the way.

A sting operation.

Pretty hazardous work, though, if you think about it.

[Rocksalt]

Yes I am suprised I've never heard of any of these people caught in these stings sueing the police for entrapment.It would seem that the cops are helping to entice them into these illegal activitys.On the other hand,driving around roads out in the woods at midnight with a loaded 300 Savage hanging out the window is slightly suspicious.

[justsomedude]

And 'fraught with risk.' Like life itself, sort of.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

A Ukrainian scrap metal worker destroyed two roofs and singed his face when he cut into a 1940s howitzer and accidentally fired off a shell no one had noticed was lodged inside, local media reported Thursday.

DUHHHHHHHHH

[Jonah Hex]

"Huh, Amerikanskis brag about their puny .45 1911A1s while putting down People's Glorious Makarov. Hold my vodka, Igor, and WATCH THIS!!"

[vannrox]

BUMP