This Darwin Award goes to ...

The woman who chose to look over the top of an COMMERCIAL-GRADE FIREWORKS DISPLAY when they didn't go off.
When they did, so did her face.

Feds to probe Melvindale fireworks death

Doug Guthrie / The Detroit News

MELVINDALE -- Police said federal officials will investigate how commercial-grade fireworks were apparently obtained without a license for use in a display that turned deadly Monday night.

Danialle Barse, 27, died shortly after 10 p.m. when struck in the head by a large commercial firework explosive, fired from a 3-inch-wide mortar in the parking lot of the Outer Drive car wash where she worked.

Barse, who grew up in Melvindale and lived in Taylor, was the mother of three, including twin 2-year-old sons. Her 8-year-old son witnessed Monday's incident, police said.

The commercial firework device was a box of 25, 3-inch mortars, designed to go off in sequence as a multi-aerial bomb finale-type of display, said Melvindale Police Lt. Chad Hayse.

"Somebody lit it and it didn't go off immediately. She looked over the top of it and it went off," Hayse said.

Her friends and co-workers were unable to reach and help Barse until the display had completed its launch and firing. Hayse said the efforts were useless because the injuries were "catastrophic."

Barse was pronounced dead at Detroit Receiving Hospital, Hayse said.

Police said they believe Barse organized the fireworks display, using about $1,000 collected from co-workers at the Town Auto Wash, 24951 Outer Drive near Dix Highway, Hayse said.

Between 20 and 30 people had gathered for the display. Most of the fireworks were of the type legally available, but some, including the multi-explosive display, were commercial-grade available for sale only to professional, federally licensed fireworks display designers, Hayse said.

 

Why is it when you see a story like this there is always some guy in a tank-top involved? I did think the family was pretty stand-up in talking to the press warning others about doing something similar.

 

Where the hell did they get fireworks like THAT?

 

Nothing like putting on a fireworks display for a whopping crowd of 20 to 30 rednecks!

 

I left my apartment a little while ago for some Turbo Dog, and before I got to my car a bottle rocket almost hit me in the face. Idiot kids in the parking lot.

 

Lotta rednecks in Detroit?

 

In Melvindale?
couple miles away, they eat muskrat,,,,

 

One person closer to annihilation of the human race!

 

Shocked that a 27-year-old car wash employee has three kids. Enough money for professional grade fireworks but not contraceptives.

 

There's a lot of rednecks everywhere.

This is just thinning the herd people.

 

Normally, in cases like this, I agree with the ridicule and the award. But this lady's kid saw the accident. Somehow, I can't muster the same ridicule this time.