Pyrotechnician Killed During Fireworks in Quakertown, PA

[byLizzDevine]

Sad

[mia0899cs]

@byLizzDevine It was so sad. 

[mia0899cs]

@JustShellene It was very sad Shellene.

[thebeatlesrocker100]

I am watching this video on the 4th now.me and my family are going to see the Quakertown fireworks tonight.i remember 2 years ago we were watching the fireworks and one exploded on the ground,and when i found out about the accident i never want to light fireworks again.EVERYONE pray for the family!

[mia0899cs]

@thebeatlesrocker100 I'll never forget that tragic night when I was watching them with my 8 year old son. Everyone left, but we stayed because my son and I wanted to see that this man survived. Unfortunately, medivac didn't arrive and I knew what that meant. It was solemn and I felt for his family. God Bless and yes pray for the family for this day will not be easy for them! I pray they are given stength.

[Dukeyboy]

I understand that I am writing this after a year has gone by, I hope you will excuse that. Just wanted to add my thoughts from a brother pyrotech, from the UK.

God Bless

[crysis109]

man i feel sorry but fireworks rock!!!!!!!

[celebrationfire]

WOW i have to say this sent chills down my back. I am the head pyrotechnician for another fireworks company and will be bidding this show this year. I am also a local firefighter. If we do win the bid we will be shooting the show 100% electronic safety is #1. I am only 24 and know that my parents always worry about me when i go to work. I know if we win the bid we will not only be doing the show in honor of the 4th of July but in honor of David Allen Walker and will be thinking of him all day.

[mia0899cs]

@celebrationfire It was so freaky. I couldn't believe it. I think you will do a great job and this will be great in honor of David Allen Walker. I plan on taking my son. We went to Hellertown after their carnival was over and they were setting them off the same way. It was just by hand. I was up close enough. It did frighten my son to go.

[Sarahhhisrockin]

this video means a lot. i am a volunteer firefighter for quakertown; i was there, on the scene. im so sorry your son had to see this. im a 14 year old girl, and still not over the fourth. i have nightmares of daved walker. and the look on his face. and the sirens. there were people walking up to the baseball fields to help, i hated telling them to leave, but it had to be done. thank you so much for tributing. it means so much.

[07adawn]

David Walker is my Baby Brother. The fourth of July will obviously never EVER be the same for me and my family, but I would like to say THANK YOU for this tribute, I'm sorry it's affected you as well.. and thank you to everyone who has watched this video, who has taken the time to leave a comment.. thanks.

[mia0899cs]

I am so sorry that this happened to your brother. My son and I waited and waited praying that Medivac was coming. You are quite welcome and I felt compelled to make this video. I couldn't get over this and the empathy that I had for the family. I know it will be very difficult every 4th of July for you and your family. I will never forget this either. I don't even have the initiative to watch fireworks anymore. God Bless you and your family!

[pickle98fire34]

I feel so bad about what happen. I hope you feel better

[mia0899cs]

Thank you! I pray the family is coping with this tragedy!

[displayfireworks1]

David Allen Walker was the technician. I work part time for the same company he worked for. I just wanted to say I was touched by your tribute. While I never worked directly with this man, everyone at the company is deeply saddened by his loss.

[mia0899cs]

I get chills when this plays. Thank you for the name. I will add it to the annotations. My son was deeply saddened too who was 8 y.o. at the time. I feel so bad. I'm glad that I did this tribute for David Allen Walker! God Bless!

[mia0899cs]

His name is added at 5:01

[ct1600]

Condolences to his family, and friends

[jdfox1]

Wow...that's sad. I like positive things so i'll just say that it's neat you have your son to go with you places. I don't have kids so I think you're lucky to have a little friend to hang out with. For me...it's just my boyfriend and my friends which is cool but I like kids so I think you're lucky.

[mia0899cs]

I know this was really sad, but I just felt compelled to do a video. Sometimes, it just helps to talk about it. I have one son and I'm lucky. There are plenty of times I'm pulling my hair out too, but it's worth it. I was 34, 10 days shy of 35. I went to nightclubs, concerts and I got all that out of my system. He will be 9 y.o. on the 21st and it's a nice age. People take children for granted, but they grow so fast. So, I encourage parents to play with their kids.

[jdfox1]

That's sweet...see it's neat you have a buddy like that.  I'm still too crazy to have kids, I like going out a lot and all that but I hope one day I can. :)

[mia0899cs]

I felt compelled to do a video about this man who no one knows because he's not a celebrity, but is priceless to his family and friends. I think you will be a great mom! It was weird because after we had our son, people kept on saying that the two of us should go out. I had a neighbor who was reliable, but we couldn't have fun. We tried to get back before 10 pm when she goes to bed but we were a little late. 6 am came and I was there. I was crazy too before I had my son, lol!

[jdfox1]

mia0899cs...

"I was crazy too before I had my son"

I haven't slept in two days, i'm hungover and my boyfriends out of town.  I have no idea why i'm telling you this, but i'm here and all is well.

[Ishitonyou666]

so Sorry!

[mia0899cs]

Thanks for commenting!

[tomken8dy]

That's horrible.

But maybe a few more kids will stay away from

M80's and things.

[mia0899cs]

That's very true Tom!

[tomken8dy]

I know James learned from it.

[B10PUNK]

Doug, I think this is just her way of showing appreciation. I don't think at all that she posted the video to put herself in the limelight - honestly, I thought it was nice. Not everyone on YouTube lives in Pennsylvania, and maybe she just wanted to tell other people about it. Plus, it was his last work. It's nice to show it to other people.

[mia0899cs]

Thanks! I grew up in Quakertown and I just felt compelled to do this. I didn't even do my makeup in the vid. It wasn't about me.

[ThomaSKAptijn]

Very moving, sad story , good musical background. My thought was the contradiction of the poor guy's death and the smile on your son's face. There's a small piece of the cycle of life in there. Like young people dying kids smiling and being happy are both parts of life we never can miss out on, unfortunately an luckily ( as far as the last part is concerned). Good vid that makes you stop and think for awhile.

[mia0899cs]

Thank you!

[4aps777]

you welcome

[mrdougbrunner]

Also the music drowns out your speech so I can't hear it. Can you post a transcript of your speech in the more info box?

[mrdougbrunner]

I can't understand much of what you are saying on the video because of your halting and slurred style of speech. This video seems to be all about YOU and how you look on the camera and not a tribute in the least. You didn't even bother to find out the guy's name. The Michael Jackson circus is very exploitative of his death. Everyone wants to make a buck and have 15 seconds of fame. This video is no exception. What does someone not liking this video have to do with dating? Do YOU date?

[ThomaSKAptijn]

You are wrong on so many levels, hope next time you write your keyboard will catch fire, mrSOURDOUGHbhrunner. Do you need a name to catch the message in this vid? It's about people caring,sourdough!!!!

[mrdougbrunner]

My keyboard is working just fine. The message of this video is using the opportunity of someone's tragedy to show themselves off in a certain light. People caring don't need to show off on the internet. The man's family and loved ones are truly mourning and videos like this one don't help the family because it doesn't allow them to mourn privately.

[mia0899cs]

Well, they received many letters in the local paper I'm sure. All we hear about is Michael Jackson, how about someone we don't know but that means a lot to their loved ones. Did you think about it that way? I didn't do this to exalt myself. I was plain and I didn't even wear cosmetics for the vid. It's not about me. Try to do something nice for someone.

[mrdougbrunner]

And my name is Doug. Not Dough. Can't you read?

[mia0899cs]

You've been very rude and it's not just this video. I'm ready to block you unless you apologize for your behavior.

[mia0899cs]

Thank you! I didn't even care how I looked in this video. It was very sad and I'm an empath. I feel for people.

[B10PUNK]

I actually didn't watch fireworks close up, because I'm very paranoid from things like this, though it shouldn't discourage people. They looked lovely though (: My favourite is at 4:24.

[mia0899cs]

It was safe for us, but I'm paranoid too when it comes to home fireworks and amateurs setting them off. We were close that we had the fallout on us, but it's possible that something could happen to the spectators. Did you see the last picture? It looked like 2 army men in it. It was straange.

[mia0899cs]

This was a tribute to him and obviously you didn't hear anything that I said. I don't see how you figure this is exploiting someone's death. I guess everyone that made a tribute vid to Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett were exploiting them as well. I suppose you feel differently when it's just a regular person. Maybe, you should learn proper etiquette. Perhaps, that is stopping you from getting a date.

[angie112277]

I actually thought it was a heartfelt lovely tribute to someone that lost thier life. I'm sorry if you were given a hard time. I love fireworks they are so pretty but so dangerous=(

[mia0899cs]

Thank you! I deleted the girl's comment, but mine stayed. People can be so rude on here. They are pretty, but they are so dangerous. There are so many injuries every year.

[bearr7]

ALL PEACE TO HIS FAMILY!

[mia0899cs]

Thanks for commenting! This is so sad!

[4aps777]

michael jackson is no better than anyone elso,leave the woman alone

[mia0899cs]

Thank you! When you lose a loved one, they mean so much to you even though no one else may have known them. I lost my mom and dad and it was very rough, especially my mom because she died 11 months after my dad.

[Megamanwolf]

aww i really hope his family is doing ok that muct of been a really horrible tragety to happen on the 4th of july same with all of the vets and soldier in iraq too same goes out to those families hope their ok too late

[mia0899cs]

It had to be such a horrific tragedy. I feel bad for the families who lost their loved ones too in Iraq. The 4th of July must have been very tough on them.

[quakertownjackass]

Hello im frank, i live in quakertown i tape everthing around here. Wish i could of been there to tape it. It sucks....

[mia0899cs]

Hi Frank, I usually bring my camcorder with me everywhere too, but I didn't have it charged. It zooms in 4000x and I would have been able to see what happened even though I don't think I could have handled it. The last picture was strange. It looked like 2 army men. I guess just an illusion. It was terrible what happened. We love going to Quakertown's fireworks. They always have a great display. It does suck!

[britwigger]

GlaD YoU ArE WeLL.

[mia0899cs]

Thanks, sweetie! Where we were sitting was close because we had the fallout on us. They were setting the fireworks off to the left of where we were sitting. We waited awhile for Medivac to land, but it obviously didn't come. My son kept hoping that the guy wasn't hurt badly. So, I thought it was better to wait. It said in the paper that he was taken to a local hospital and then pronounced dead. Half stick of dynamite is what he was struck with. He was in shock, but I hope he didn't suffer.

[TheBoyBlue91982]

my great grandfather died in a fireworks accident.

[mia0899cs]

I'm sorry to hear that.

[kayyouman]

:(

How far away do you have to be? They must not follow the "rules" here, I was less than 10 car lengths away from where they were setting them off (along with about 300 other people) It's awesome being that close, some of the bangs made my shirt move :D !

[mia0899cs]

We had fallout on us, so they let us be very close.

They are very loud.

[kayyouman]

Awesome :D I don't think I did lol. Hopefully your son didn't see "anything" when it happened?

[mia0899cs]

Thank you! We couldn't see anything, but we were told that one of the guys were injured and that Medivac was landing. So, he was just hoping that he wasn't injured too badly. The one fireman talked to us for awhile and he said that they would probably take him to a burn unit down the NE extension instead of Lehigh Valley hospital. Then he heard the guy talking to someone else that it was like a half stick of dynamite. He was sad but talked a lot about it and hopefully won't play with fireworks

[kayyouman]

Okay :)

Did they finish the fireworks after it happened?

[mia0899cs]

No.  I think it was out of respect for this man and also they didn't know what went wrong.

[kysmiley24]

this is so sad... prayers to the family.

did you hear about the boy who was shot in the neck by an angry neighbor who didnt want the fireworks to be set off? its so tragic because it seems a lot of accidents happen around what is supposed to be a happy time.

good choice in music, btw.

:((

[mia0899cs]

It was so sad and I still feel really bad as well as my son. He talks about to everyone, so this is how he is dealing with it. I told him to pray for the family. I didn't hear about the angry neighbor but that is horrible. The music was perfect by Kevin MacLeod.