Police say a 22-year-old Maine man was killed after setting a fireworks mortar tube off on top of his head on the Fourth of July.
State police say Devon Staples of Calais was killed in what they described as a “bizarre” accident around 10 p.m. Saturday while drinking with friends and setting off fireworks at one of their homes on South Street.
He died instantly when he set off a fireworks mortar he had placed on his head, investigators said.
Staples’ death is the first fireworks-related death since fireworks became legal two years ago, according to state police.
Calais is on the Canadian border near New Brunswick.
State fire marshals were also investigating several other Fourth of July fireworks accidents involving injuries in Friendship, Jefferson, Lebanon and Woodstock. They said most of the accidents involved burns and eye injuries. McCausland said further details were expected to be released later Sunday.
In 2011, lawmakers voted to repeal a 1949 law banning fireworks, reasoning the industry would create jobs and generate additional revenue.
“He died instantly when he set off a fireworks mortar he had placed on his head, investigators said.”
‘Rocket’ scientist, obviously. 🙄
And they say stupid can’t be fixed.
Similar brilliance:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon-Erik_Hexum
Every year there’s a handful of stupid, doing something only a crackhead would do. Fireworks are “banned” in my state, but that never stops our neighborhood from lighting them off. The cops don’t enforce the ban thank goodness. It sounded like a war zone here last night, and will again tonight. 🙂
Quietest 4th I’ve ever experienced, Deb.
Love this place! 🙂
I don’t mind it too terribly. Everyone’s entitled to their fun. With the doors closed and the ac running, it’s just background noise. Although I was kitten sitting this weekend while my daughter went camping. It freaked her out a bit!
A friend & I used to drive to Vegas every year for my birthday (May 3). On the way back we’d stop in Pahrump and load up my trunk with fireworks. Used to love setting them off.
But then he died a few years ago, and I stopped going. Since then, I just haven’t enjoyed it as much anymore.
Besides, it really DOES literally sound like a war zone on ALL sides till about 2 in the morning or so.
This place didn’t put out 1/2 of 1% of L.A.’s insanity.
Mine is May 2, #1. 😉
Outstanding! 🙂
I’m sorry to hear about your friend #1. When my husband was put away in 2012, my oldest sister traveled up here to be with me and my kids. She was really messed up in the head, and didn’t even stay here till the 4th, but she brought a ton of fireworks with her, that we never got to enjoy them together. She killed herself in March of 2014. The 4th from that day on has always reminded me of her, and how she liked to light off the fireworks to make the kids happy. The war zone sounds makes me think of some rough times we have coming. But in the end, it will be in our favor, even though it won’t be pretty. The 4 th stopped being about our independence, and what we are going to do to take it back.
I’m sorry for your loss, Deb. Were ssri’s involved?
Yeah, Brian was a good friend for nearly 20 years. He went with me to NZ & Australia back in ’07 (he was the only one I knew who could afford to). I was the last one to see him alive, the night before Halloween. He died of a massive coronary the next morning. Sure do miss him. 🙁
Didn,t he read the warning lable?
” WARNING, don,t be an idiot and put this damn thing ontop of your head while lighting off”
Perhaps he wanted to be listed on the ” Darwin Awards ” site as a final tribute to his innate ignorance:
http://www.darwinawards.com/
The REAL SHOCKER: they were drinking.
famous last words,”WATCH ‘IS YA’LL!!!!!!!!!!!
You can’t fix stupid.
Termination seems to fix it.