KNOXVILLE, Iowa — A woman was killed in an explosion at a gender reveal announcement in Iowa Saturday afternoon.
According to the Marion County Sheriff’s office, a blast “caused a flying piece of debris to strike the victim.”
“Five family members and the expectant mother gathered and placed gunpowder in the bottom of a homemade stand that was welded to a metal base plate,” the sheriff’s office said. “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.”
56-year-old Pamela Kreimeyer was pronounced dead at the scene.
“This family got together for what they thought was going to be a happy event with no intent for anyone to get hurt,” Sheriff Jason Sandholdt said. “What ended up happening was that Pamela Kreimeyer — a wife, mother and grandmother — was killed by a piece of metal where a metal stand, gunpowder and colored powder were involved.”
