Homemade pumpkin-launching cannon explodes, critically injuring contest spectator

A 39-year-old woman suffered critical injuries after an apparatus used to launch pumpkins into the air exploded at a large outdoor competition, Delaware State Police said.

A 56-year-old man was also hurt with non-life threatening injuries. Both had been struck by debris from the explosion.

The incident occurred at the Punkin Chunkin Contest in Bridgeville, which is about 50km south of Dover. The competition involves dozens of contestants launching pumpkins from homemade contraptions, many of which are air-powered with long cannons and hauled on the back of trucks.

Spectator Daivd Aronson, 52, of Falls Church, Virginia, said he was about 25 metres behind the cannon when it exploded. He said it had just fired a pumpkin when a piece blew off the launcher that was the size of a car door.

“It arcs down on this woman who is running away as it hits her,” he said.