'Punkin Chunkin' program canceled after accident
There will be no Punkin Chunkin program special this year.
Although set for a return after a two-year absence from television, the Thanksgiving holiday contest featuring teams of backyard engineers sending pumpkins flying thousands of feet into the air will not be shown after two people were injured during this year's event earlier in November.
A woman is still recovering after initially being listed in critical condition at a hospital when she was struck by something after an air cannon firing a pumpkin exploded at the site of the contest in Bridgeville, Del. At the time, a man also was treated at an area hospital for non-life-threatening injuries related to the incident.
As a result, Science Channel, owned by Discovery Communications, is not airing this year's competition special which was set to premiere Nov. 26. Discovery issued a statement saying, "In light of the unfortunate incident at the Punkin Chunkin event on Nov. 6, Science Channel will not air Punkin Chunkin as originally planned. We are sending our hopes and prayers for a full recovery to the injured woman, her family and loved ones.”
The annual competition had been on hiatus after a previous accident and lawsuit, which was dismissed in 2015.