Science Channel's plan to air the pumpkin-smashing Punkin Chunkin event this Saturday (Nov. 26) has been canceled out of respect for a woman who was injured at the event in Bridgeville, Del., two weeks ago. According to news reports, including this one from Delmarvanow.com, an air cannon used to propel a pumpkin broke apart after firing and injured a man and a woman. The woman, age 39, suffered serious injuries, reports said. The Punkin Chunkin event was not held in 2014 and 2015 because of a lawsuit that was settled in 2015, Delmarvanow.com reported.
The program, which had aired around Thanksgiving for several years on the Discovery-owned outlet, has not aired on the channel since 2013. Marc Etkind, who became general manager of the channel (moving over from Destination America) about a year ago, wanted to bring it back, believing it epitomized what's good about backyard and everyday science.
“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,” Science Channel said in a statement today.
