Tulsa World: Man dies in firework mishap

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Man dies in firework mishap

By JOHNNY JOHNSON, Newsok.com
Published: 7/7/2009 6:36 PM
Last Modified: 7/7/2009 6:36 PM

DIBBLE — A 26-year-old man died Sunday from injuries he received when he was holding a lit firework on the Fourth of July.

Richard Hines apparently had been drinking Saturday night when he lit the fuse of an artillery shell aerial firework and held the reloadable fiberglass launching tube above his head, McClain County Sheriff Don Hewett said. Instead of launching into the air, the shell exploded and shot out the bottom of the fiberglass tube.

“From what I heard, it exploded on his head, and he lost three fingers and a thumb,” the sheriff said. “There were several people standing fairly close to him, and they were knocked down from the concussion of the blast.”

Hewitt said the explosion occurred about 9:50 p.m., when a group of relatives had gathered at Hines’ home near Dibble.

Hines was taken to the University of Oklahoma Medical Center in Oklahoma City, where he died Sunday.

Hewitt said the artillery shell was “not quite like the professional fireworks like you see” but that it was “powerful enough.”

“I just can’t believe someone would do that,” Hewitt said. “I mean, it’s even dangerous to handle a Roman candle, much less these high-powered mortar rockets.” By JOHNNY JOHNSON, Newsok.com

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	Report Comment T.B'Ville, Bartlesville (7/7/2009 6:55:34 PM) Of course alcohol was involved! No one would do anything like that sober.
	Report Comment rightwingmom, (7/7/2009 6:56:35 PM) What is that book called... The Darwin Awards?
	Report Comment human1, Cast your fate to the wind (7/7/2009 7:27:09 PM) To the family I am very sorry this has happened. Drunk or sober someone lost a loved one. Firecrackers are dangerous.
	Report Comment Jolie2, (7/7/2009 7:33:30 PM) Ah, the tradition of blowing things up to celebrate independence day...causes people to lose their minds and forget basic safety. Alcohol surely doesn't help any.
	Report Comment yep, Tulsa County (7/7/2009 7:49:58 PM) Yes the website is darwinawards (dot com), and it seems this poor fellow may be a candidate.
	Report Comment unreliablesource, Owasso (7/7/2009 9:02:48 PM) Famous last words, "here hold my beer and watch this"
	Report Comment scooter2, (7/8/2009 7:29:06 AM) Fireworks can be dangerous Drunk or sober if not handled right. Probably alot more dangerous drunk though. A very young man to lose his life, my sympathies to all who knew him. It is so very tragic when young lives go so soon.

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