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REPORT CHARACTERISTICS:
DONOR: B.C. Coroner's Service
JURISDICTION: British Columbia
REPORT TITLE: Coroner's Report of Inquiry
INDIVIDUAL PRESIDING: R. E. Stevenson, Coroner
PLACE OF INQUIRY: Unavailable
DATE OF INQUIRY : 1984-04-03
INFORMATION ABOUT DECEASED:
OCCUPATION: Unavailable
INDUSTRIAL SECTOR: Unavailable
NAME: Confidential
ACCIDENT INFORMATION:
DATE OF ACCIDENT : 1984-02-27
PLACE OF ACCIDENT: 547 - 3rd Avenue, Prince George
BRIEF CAUSE OF DEATH: Blunt force trauma; multiple fractures;
skull and
facial bones.
BRIEF MANNER OF DEATH: Struck by metal door of safe propelled
by an
explosion from within.
ACCIDENT DESCRIPTION:
The deceased while cutting through the door of a Taylor safe
with an
acetylene torch was killed by an explosion originating from
the interior
of the safe. The door was blown off and the impact of the door
caused
extensive blunt force injury to his head and chest. The incident
occurred at the Midway Wrought Iron Works at 543-Third Avenue,
Prince
George. Present at the time of the explosion was the owner of
the safe,
another person and the deceased's brother. The safe owner had
recently
purchased two safes. The two safes were carted to the iron works
for
opening. The combinations were unknown. The safe owner had used
the
deceased for this type of work before.
Apparently the safe owner drilled two holes right next to the
dial.
After the holes were drilled and the inside dust settled, he
intended
using some special lights and scopes to examine the tumblers.
However,
he had forgotten his reading glasses and he couldn't see well
enough, so
at that point he asked the deceased to cut a hole in the safe
between
the handle and the tumbler dial. This was carried out resulting
in
about 1 3/4 inch x 2 inch hole. The safe owner then got a hammer
and
chisel and attempted to bend a tab of metal in order to release
the
tumblers. He couldn't quite bend it far enough and asked the
deceased
to enlarge the hole so the torch could cut the tab completely.
The
deceased began using the torch and approximately 10 seconds
later the
explosion occurred. Both the front and the back of the safe
were blown
off and the walls were bowed out.
The deceased was hit by the door and thrown about 6 feet. His
brother
was flipped over 360 degrees and thrown back 6 feet. The safe
owner
suffered a leg wound and the other person was apparently physically
unharmed. Some burning black clover safety fuse was on the floor
and
this was kicked outside the shop. The flame from the acetylene
torch
was blown out by the explosion. The tanks were turned off immediately.
About this time several people arrived, the ambulance arrived
and the
R.C.M.P.
The deceased was transported to Prince George Regional Hospital.
He was
pronounced dead on arrival. The scene was secured. An explosive
expert
R.C.M.P. Special Constable arrived the following morning to
determine
the explosive type. In his opinion based on scene examination
and
laboratory examination using an electron microscope, pieces
of the
interior wood lining of the safe contain metal fragments consistent
with
those used in blasting cap construction. The explosion resulted
according to the Constable from the detonation of blasting caps.
He estimated that there were probably 150 caps in the safe in
two
different locations. The caps were type number 6 N.E. An estimated
50
caps were on the second wooden shelf, most likely these were
set off by
sparks or the open flame of the torch. An additional 100 caps
estimated
were on the floor of the safe against the rear bulkhead. They
most
likely detonated during the explosion of the first 50. The Constable
estimates that there was a total of 100 grams of explosives
contained in
the 150 caps. About 25 metres of black clover fuse was inside
but did
not contribute to the explosion. The origin of the safe and
the
contents is unknown. The final owner purchased the safe on February
20,
1984.
The previous owner had purchased three safes on a bid basis
award in
June of 1973 from Northwood Timber in Houston, B.C. Northwood
Timber
had acquired the safes during the process of buying out various
lumber
companies operating in the Houston, Burns Lake area. At the
time of the
purchase the combinations to the safe were unknown as well as
the
contents. The safes were bought sight unseen. It seems likely
that the
safes could have come from Buck Creek Sawmill operation in the
Houston
area or Omineca Lumber or Mercury Logging operating in the Burns
Lake
area.
The smallest of the three safes was opened uneventfully shortly
after
its purchase. Nothing was remembered to be in it. The safes
were
transported to Prince George by truck. The safes were then stored
in
the basement of a parking arcade at 1855-3rd Avenue. They had
been
stored there ever since. It was from that basement on 27 February
1984
that the safes were transported by the safe owner and another
person to
the Midway Wrought Iron Works.
RECOMMENDATIONS ISSUING FROM INQUIRY:
TO: CANADIAN PRESS WIRE SERVICE:
SUBJECT: Recommended techniques to open up - Security Chests,
Insulated
Fire Safes and Miscellaneous Security Equipment when safe combination
numbers and/or keys are not available.
TERMINOLOGY RE: The above will be described as "UNITS"
in the following.
Units equipped with functionable combination lock/s can most
always be
systematically and methodically manipulated to attain the unlocked
position.
Units equipped with secondary key/s locking function can most
always be
picked to the unlocked position, or have a key fitted directly
to the
lock.
When encountering units equipped with manipulation proof combination
locks and/or high security key operated locks, recommended drilling
procedures and technique should be implemented.
The proximity and accessibility of a unit, will at times, indicate
the
method to be employed.
PLEASE NOTE: Regardless of the qualification, dimension or weight
of a
unit. CAUTION MUST BE EMPHASIZED WHEN OPENING A UNIT WITH UNKNOWN
CONTENTS. A compentent Safe Technician should be employed, to
open up
any locked unit when presented as such.
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