Rancher injured after shooting dynamite w/ shotgun

[DangerCl0se]

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=6420831

Rancher injured disposing of dynamite
May 8th, 2009 @ 12:05pm

BOX ELDER COUNTY -- A rancher is in the hospital after he blew up some dynamite with his shotgun.

The man found the dynamite Friday morning in a shed on a private ranch three miles south of the ATK Thiokol testing area, which is north-west of the city of Corinne. The shed is south of Promontory Road. Concerned for his grand kids safety- the rancher took the dynamite out, stood about 40 yards from it and fired his shotgun at it. The dynamite blew up and shrapnel hit the rancher in the head. ATK Thiokol provided medical assistance. Box Elder County Sheriff's deputies are on scene looking through what is described as knee-high grass. The man was flown to the hospital.

[Cinhil]

Ummm....I think someone has been watching too many TV shows! Stupid! It's dynamite!I think I would have called someone for it's removal myself.

[xRapidDavex]

GET 'ER DONE!!!!

I wonder how many beers he had before he did that.

[mqondo]

I wonder what gets into a guys head to make him shoot at a high explosive.... I guess the answer is shrapnel. That guy is S.M.R.T.

[DangerCl0se]

KSL updated the article . . . strangely, they no longer mention the use of a gun to detonate the dynamite, and indicate that they don't know what triggered the explosion:

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=6420831

Rancher injured disposing of dynamite
May 8th, 2009 @ 4:04pm
By Alex Cabrero

BOX ELDER COUNTY –– A rancher in Box Elder County was seriously injured when he tried to get rid of dynamite.

Neighbors say Brent Larsen found the dynamite in his shed and was worried about it going off, especially with his grandchildren around. He took it out of the shed Friday morning, but for some reason––we're still trying to confirm that reason––the dynamite exploded, sending shrapnel into Larsen's face. Medical teams rushed to his Promontory home, but his injuries were so severe a medical helicopter was called to fly him to the hospital.

In the meantime, investigators were looking for any other pieces of dynamite that might not have exploded. Box Elder County Chief Deputy Kevin Potter said, "We need them to clear the area and make sure there's no other explosives before we finish the investigation, or really even get started investigating." The sheriff's office says when it comes to old dynamite, you should call professionals to get rid. Potter said, "The problem with old dynamite is that it starts to sweat and, once it starts doing that, it's in a very unstable condition, and it can go anytime."

If I remember right, when dynamite sweats, it release nitroglycerin, which is anything but stable (unless it's really cold).

[jaredbelch]

Personally I thought shooting it from 40 yards was a reasonable way to dispose of it. Though I would make sure I was behind cover. It would also depend on how much there was... It's handling it and moving it that would make me not want anything to do with it, cuz that's when old stuff goes off.

[Car Knocker]

KSL now reports that the man has died and the sheriff's office is still trying to determine exactly what happened that caused the dynamite to explode.

[copper]

Looks like KSL jumped on the Gun angle too quick and it is probably not the case. From all reports he was a really nice guy. Thoughts go out to his family.