Boy killed by exploding cannon

[Double D]

Published July 05, 2007
Boy killed by shrapnel from exploding cannon during family celebration near Littlerock
The Olympian


An 8-year-old Thurston County boy was killed Wednesday after being struck by shrapnel from an exploding cannon during a family gathering for the Fourth of July, a Thurston County Sheriff's Office release said today.

Investigators arrived at the home on the 6800 block of 105th Avenue Southwest in Thurston County shortly before 8 p.m. to find the boy with a shrapnel wound in the chest. He was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead at around 9 p.m., according to the Coroner's office.

There were reportedly nine adults and seven children at the residence, and the boy was standing with at least one other person when he was struck. No other injuries were reported.

The cannon appeared to be about 18 inches long before the explosion and was about 100 feet away from the boy when it was set off. It was broken apart after the explosion, with the main portion a little less than seven inches long and three-and-a-half inches in diameter.

Two other pieces of shrapnel from the cannon were located -- one about three inches by three inches in size about 220 feet from the cannon, and one about two-and-a-half inches by two inches in size found near the west side of the residence.

The origins of the cannon as well as why it exploded remain under investigation. Detectives are also looking into whether a criminal act was involved.

In an unrelated incident, a 3-year-old child sitting in a vehicle in the Nisqually Pines area near Yelm sustained minor injuries when a bottle rocket flew into the vehicle's window and exploded around 8 p.m. Wednesday.

The person who set of that firework was not found.

Additional links
http://www.king5.com/topstories/stories/NW_070507WAB_fatal_cannon_explosion_JM.45b1ed6f.html

Thruston County Sheriffs Department Press Release

On July 4th at 1952 hrs. Deputies responded to assist the fire department with an injured child. The incident occurred in the 6800 blk. of 105th Ave. S.W. in Thurston County. Deputies discovered an 8 yr. old Thurston County boy had been injured by a piece of metal that apparently was from a metal “cannon” that had been discharged during a family gathering at the residence. The victim was struck in the chest and he was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased around 2123 hrs. according to the Coroner’s Office. He was visiting relatives at the residence for the 4th of July. There were 9 adults and 7 children present and only the victim was injured.

Deputies began investigating the incident and were able to locate the remains of the ‘cannon” which was approx. a 100 ft. away from where the victim was injured. Two pieces of shrapnel from the cannon were located prior to darkness. One was 223 ft. away from the cannon and it was nearly 3” by 3” in size. The second piece was 2.5 in. by 2 in. in size and was found by citizen near the west side of the residence in question. No other persons were injured and the victim was standing with at least one other person when he was struck by the shrapnel from the exploding cannon. The “cannon” appears to have been approx. 18 in. long overall before it exploded. The exact reason the “cannon” exploded is under investigation.

The origins of the “cannon” are also being determined.

It appears that the cannon was set off as part of a 4th of July celebration at the property. The “cannon” appears to have broken apart into pieces. The main portion that has been recovered is a little less than 7 in. long by 3.5 in. in diameter. Detectives were called to scene by on the on duty Patrol Supervisor. The scene was secured overnight and guarded so a more thorough investigation and search for evidence can be conducted. Detectives are investigating whether a criminal act is involved in this incident.

In an unrelated incident, another child was injured when a “bottle rocket” flew in the vehicle the 3 yr. old was riding in and exploded at approx. 2010 hrs. in the Nisqually Pines area of S.E. Thurston County near Yelm. The child received minor injuries. The person who discharged the firework was not found.

Jim Chamberlain
Chief Criminal Deputy

[Double D]

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420AP_WA_Cannon_Injuries.html

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Last updated July 5, 2007 10:28 a.m. PT

Exploding pipe-cannon injures two men near Montesano
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MONTESANO, Wash. -- The Grays Harbor County sheriff's office says two men were using a pipe as a homemade cannon near Montesano when it exploded.

Undersheriff Rick Scott says the men, 19 and 25 years old, were taken to Grays Harbor Community Hospital with shrapnel wounds.

In a separate accident last night, an 8-year-old boy was killed by shrapnel from a small cannon that exploded near Littlerock in Thurston County.

---

Information from: Ian Cope/KXRO-AM, http://www.kxro.com/modules/news/

[walter t]

Scary!
Looks like the cannon must have been plugged solid to explode like that, I wonder if it was  one of those cast ornamental cannons???
Walter t

[Double D]

That's no casting.  I I have seen that tube end somewhere before.  Does any one recognize it?

That linear crack says pressure to me!

Not necessarily plugged but high pressure.  Massive over load? Wrong powder? Wad (plug)?

As much as we hear you Washington State guys say it ("can't find black"), I would not be surprised to find out it wasn't black powder involved in this

Every time some one comes on this board and says I want a blank load that will rattle the neighbors windows a block away,  I think of the possiblilty of an accident just like.   Seems to be a common thread in these cannon accidents...blank loads.

 

[Double D]

Does tht look like some sort of piston head, or mayby a ram from some hydraulic equipment?

[tomzuki]

If these "BOZOS" keep it up be prepared to have serial numbers and microstamping with a ten day waiting period!  The authorities will round us up and drop the cannons to the bottom of the sea.  Same thing with small arms, muscle cars, and power tools..............

[Tropico]

I agree with  the over load for sure ., also I just saved then zoomed in on the photo..., the metal sure looks porous to me.  Also according to the tape in the photo and my caliper it looks like a 7/8 wall  and a 1.50  possibly a 1.75  bore.  Also  the fuse hole is right above the 1 1/2  mark which is  4 1/2 away from the break  which seems to be about 6"      what do you suppose   1.75"  X 4.50"  of say   2ff  or 3ff   would be?   I am not sure..., but if this is right..., thats a huge amount of powder !!!   .,

1. side note  -   7/8 wall and a 1.75" bore is about the same as that wild imports we discussed.

[Double D]

I guessing pyrodex or some other synthetic!

[accuratemike]

Now that Tropico pointed out the touch hole, and I zoomed in a little, I'm going with cast pipe. I think we are looking at a threaded plug to the left and some sealing ribs between there and the touch hole. The taper to the right of the touch hole looks not unike the bottom of a cylinder sleeve. I'll bet this end of the pipe pushed into something and sealed around the OD. Too bad that the press doesnt know from beans. Calling these pipe bomb accidents "cannons" gives cannons a bad name. You don't actually see too many accidents with (what WE would call) cannons. Ornaments and pipe should get their own press. People might actually learn something from reading about that. MIKE

[Double D]

Mike,

I had to go back and look at this picture again.  I think I see what you are talking about.  At the left end there is a seam aout 1/4 inch in, is this the cap or plug you are referring to?

I also see the touch hole.

Notice how rusty the metal is?

Could this be a piece well stem or drill rod?

I have seen that shape before!

[Double D]

Published July 07, 2007
Grandfather says he fired cannon many times over the years
Jeremy Pawloski


The man who fired a cannon that exploded at a Fourth of July party, killing an 8-year-old boy, told investigators that he had fired it “many times over the years without a problem.”

The cannon had been lit by the grandfather of Devan Vyborny, 8. Evidence suggests that the explosion was the result of an accident, authorities say. “The evidence is pointing more solidly toward a tragic accident than any criminal wrongdoing,” Thurston County Chief Criminal Deputy James Chamberlain said.

The grandfather has said he thinks metal fatigue contributed to the cannon malfunctioning during the party at his home in the 6800 block of 105th Avenue.

“He said he’d used it many times in the past on Christmas and the Fourth of July,” Chamberlain said.

There is no evidence that fireworks or any other projectiles were loaded into the cannon, Chamberlain said.

Chamberlain said investigators will ask the federal bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to look at the cannon’s remains to determine what caused the explosion.

Investigators haven’t determined whether metal fatigue — the weakening of metal over time because of use — or something else was the cause, he said. Devan died of blood loss after shrapnel struck him in the chest, severing his aorta, Thurston County Coroner Gary Warnock said. The aorta is the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the smaller arteries in the rest of the body.

Warnock said the shrapnel that struck Devan was “a very small piece.”

Devan was standing about 100 feet behind the metal cannon when it exploded. He was the only one struck of the 16 people — including seven children — who were at the party. Shrapnel flew more than 200 feet, according to the sheriff’s office. The boy’s family is cooperating with the investigation, Chamberlain said.

The grandfather has said he purchased the cannon more than 20 years ago at a garage sale in Colorado, Chamberlain said. The cannon was 12 to 14 inches long before it was destroyed, the man told investigators.

The man has described the cannon as an antique, but investigators do not know its age, or where or when it was manufactured, Chamberlain said.

Cannons are readily available over the Internet, according to cannon-mania.com. The Web site advertises “worldwide shipping” for the 150 cannons for sale.

Jeremy Pawloski covers public safety for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-754-5465 or jpawloski@theolympian.com.

[lance]

Double D, people really need to keep safety on their minds, at all times. it's too late for that little one, but maybe others can be kept from harm. if only that family knew the stuff we know on this board.

[Double D]

I really want to track this one, becasue it just sounds so much like waht a bunch of folks have posted here before and we have warned about.

The are quotes coming out of this that sounds like echos.The most notable:

The man who fired a cannon that exploded at a Fourth of July party, killing an 8-year-old boy, told investigators that he had fired it “many times over the years without a problem.”

How many times have we heard stated as an idicator that something unsafe is safe!  This sort of thing is why I will constantly and continually cite "think safety".   I know I rub some people the wrong way when I do that, but too bad!  Incidents like this give real meaning to the phrase "Better safe than sorry". 

I just hope that we can get the final report on what casued this accident, because I do believe we all can learn from this.

One of the TV stations had some pictures of the one end piece and it looked lik teh walls of the tube were  only about  3/4 inch thick.

I lots things in these pictures that generate questions.

1.  What was this thing made from?
2.  What propellant was used?
3.  Was this same type of propelleant used every year?
4.  How much propellant?
5.  Was there a wad or projectile?
6.  How many shots had been fired before this shot?
7.  Was the tube cleaned between shots?
9.  Was this thing cleaned after each years shooting?
10. Why did this rupture so far from the fuse hole? (Stuck wad with airspace?)
11. How was this thing secured; carriage, base?

[Terry C.]

This does not look like a cannon to me, ornamental or otherwise.

My first impression was that this must be the muzzle, until it was pointed out that there was a vent in the photo.

I zoomed in for a closer look and found the vent, so apparently this was the breech.

No cascabel (unless there was a breech plug that was blow out), and what appears to me to be a snap-ring groove near the rear edge. This looks to me like some sort of machine part that was either bored out, or hollow to begin with.

Of great interest was whether the improvised tube had trunnions welded to it.

If the tube was "12 to 14 inches long" as stated, then the trunnions would have been just beyond the break. Many machine parts are hardened to reduce wear, but this leaves them with little tensile strength and attempts at welding often result in cracks.

Of course, all of this is pure conjecture on my part.