Woman killed in explosion at gender reveal party
An explosion at the gender reveal party killed the woman instantly (Photo: File photo)
A woman has been killed after an explosion at a gender reveal party went badly wrong.
56-year-old Pamela Kreimeyer was killed at the party in Knoxville, Iowa on Saturday (October 26) after being hit by falling debris from an explosion, which was intended to be blue or pink to signify the baby’s gender.
The local sheriff’s office said that six people including the expectant mother were present when the gender reveal “pipe bomb” was set off, which sent shards of metal debris flying.
Family improvised an explosive device for gender reveal party
Marion County Sheriff’s office said in a statement: “Our investigation showed that members of the Kreimeyer family were experimenting with different types of explosive material on Friday and Saturday in an attempt to record a gender reveal that could be posted on social media for friends and family.”
However, things quickly went awry with their improvised device.
The gender reveal party in Knoxville, Iowa got out of hand (Creative Commons photo/Colin M.L. Burnett.)
The statement adds: “A hole had been drilled in the side for a fuse, a piece of wood was placed on top of the gunpowder and colored powder was placed on top of the board.
“Tape was then wrapped over the top of the metal tubing, inadvertently creating a pipe bomb. Instead of the gunpowder shooting the powder out the top of the stand, the stand exploded sending metal pieces flying.”
Kreimeyer, believed to be the baby’s grandmother, was standing 45 feet from the explosion but instantly died when she was struck with debris, causing “instant death”.
‘Happy event’ ends in tragedy
Sheriff Jason Sandholdt said: “This family got together for what they thought was going to be a happy event with no intent for anyone to get hurt.
“This is a reminder that anytime someone mixes these things there is a high potential for serious injury or death; please do not take these unnecessary risks.”
The incident remains under investigation.
It’s not the first time a gender reveal party has gone awry.
In 2017, hundreds of people had to evacuate their homes in Arizona after an explosion at a gender reveal party sparked a wildfire that burned across 47,000 acres.
The man who caused the fire, a border patrol agent, was later sentenced to five years’ probation after pleading guilty to a misdemeanour charge of causing a fire without a permit.
