2 Injured, 1 Critical At Punkin' Chunkin' Event In Delaware

BALTIMORE (WJZ)--Investigations continue into an explosion at the annual Punkin' Chunkin' event in Delaware over the weekend that left two people injured.

WJZ covered earlier Punkin' Chunkin' events in Delaware, where pumpkins are shot by homemade cannons.

"We all look forward to trying to outdo one another and see who can shoot the farthest," said one man.

The door used to load pumpkins blew off a cannon called the "Pumpkin Reaper". The force and weight of the metal struck a 39-year-old woman in the face and head. She was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.

The video was captured on YouTubeby user dirtbike5100.

"There was also a male subject 56-years-old that was injured when some of the debris struck him as well. His injuries are non-life threatening," said Cpl. Gary Fournier, with the Delaware State Police.

The Punkin Chunkin event started 30-years ago.  In that time cannons have grown more powerful--now powered by compressed air, like a gigantic BB gun.

That pressure is what forced a cannon over the weekend to explode.

Police say their investigation remains active.

"We're looking at the apparatus," said Cpl. Fournier. "We do have specialty units from outside the agency that are coming in to inspect the cannon. And this is an active and on-going investigation that may take a little while to figure out what occurred. What happened to this machine."

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