posted on April 21, 2003 02:14:44 PM new
Teen blinded when frog shot from potato gun Associated Press
DALLAS - A teenager was blinded after being struck in the face with a frog shot from a so-called "potato gun."
Daniel Benjamin Berry, 17, received the injury after he looked down the barrel of the gun's PVC pipe barrel and was hit in the face by the frog.
"He is going to be blind in both eyes," Daniel's mother, Lisa Berry, said.
Potato guns are made of pipe with one end sealed. A potato is wedged into the open end and a flammable liquid put into a sealed chamber is ignited, launching the object.
Denton County Sheriff's Department spokesman Kevin Patton said the accident occurred about 1 a.m. Sunday when Daniel Berry joined a crowed of teenagers watching the gun be fired.
When it misfired, Daniel Berry looked down the barrel to see what was wrong when the gun went off, Patton said.
"He said it just went off. It was a misfire. It hit him square in the face," Lisa Berry said, adding that her son had broken bones in his face that would require surgery.
Patton said no charges would be filed.
"This is the first incident involving a potato gun that we have had to deal with," he said. "What are you going to do? This was an accident."
Lisa Berry said the accident ruined her son's career dreams.
"All he ever wanted to do was be an Air Force pilot," she said. "That isn't going to happen now."
posted on April 21, 2003 06:03:43 PM new
It's really hard to have much sympathy for someone that stupid.
1AM? Why do I suspect alcohol was a factor?
And this kid wants to strap on a $30 million aircraft for a living? No........
If he was 7 it would be understandable having that judgement.
