3 Hurt by Gunpowder Blast in Mock Battle
Gunpowder exploded Saturday aboard a ship taking part in a mock pirate battle on the Elizabeth River during Harborfest, seriously injuring three people, authorities said.
The crew aboard the Wan Fu was lighting a cannon and a spark apparently touched off the nearby gunpowder, said Lt. Cmdr. Dave Breuninger, Coast Guard group commander for Hampton Roads.
Guidelines for the mock pirate battle had been established, and a safety briefing had been conducted in the morning before the battle, the Harborfest Committee said.
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