Dragonman's Range Accidents (2): Merge of previous threads on this subject

[Mule]

It would seriously surprise me if this (the pyrotechnics) was set up by the Discovery Channel folks.

Just sayin.

The pyro company that has been working on the Discovery set (last two shows season 1 and all of 2nd season) has not been out yet on this 3rd season. ASSUMING they were in fact filming for the Discovery show. I worked the last two shows - season 1... That said, they may have changed pyro companies because my boss had to set some safety rules that they didn't like. I just hope it's not the Discovery show.

I don't know Mel, but anytime someone dies in an accident like this I am pretty skeptical of decisions/carelessness involved. I have been involved with a decent amount of special effects over the last few years and know there was gross negligence on someone's part.

It's a tragic loss and I feel sorry for the girls.

[asmo]

I was wondering this also...The way I understand it is that Terry was the actual owner of all of those firearms...

Slim to none.. Melvin is not allowed to own firearms.

[onebadfx4]

Slim to none.. Melvin is not allowed to own firearms.

Hope they were in a trust to their kids. If not, that's gonna be a huge firearm auction.

[wctriumph]

I just read this,don't know them but I know some of you do. Prayers on the way.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/frea...h-smoke-bombs/

FREAK ACCIDENT: COLORADO WOMAN DIES WHILE FILMING TV SHOW AFTER GETTING HIT BY 150MPH SMOKE BOMBS
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 12:08am by Jason Howerton Print »Email »
Comments (54)

Terri Flanell, 51. (Source: KOAA)
A woman was killed Thursday in a freak accident while filming a cable television show at her husband’s Colorado shooting range.

Terri Flanell, 51, was hit by a pair of foot-long smoke bombs traveling at 150mph. The first bomb knocked her down and the second went through her neck and out her naval, killing her instantly, ABC News reported.

“They went right through her body. She didn’t suffer or nothing,” her husband Mel Bernstein told the Colorado Springs Gazette after the tragedy. “She just dropped.”

The foot-long bombs were being used for special effects during the pilot taping of a new show about military vehicles when they accidentally went off and went rocketing towards the television crew, Bernstein told ABC News. Sadly enough, the smokey sequence in which Flanell was killed was the last scene of the show.

“I’ve been running this rifle range for 30 years and no one’s got hurt, because it is very safe here,” Bernstein said. “Out of eight days of filming, it happened in the last 30 seconds, the last frame. And it happened to my wife.”

“All I wanted to do was lock up and go out to eat,” Bernstein said, referring to the moments before the accident.


The Dragon Man shooting range where Terri Flanell was killed. (Source: KOAA)
The weaponized smoke bombs missed Bernstein by about four inches, he explained.

“They were so close to my face, and if they would’ve hit me, I wouldn’t be here talking to you today,” Bernstein added.

The Colorado Springs Gazette also reports that this is the second incident that occurred during the filming of the pilot. A woman was treated for burns at Memorial Hospital on Wednesday and was later released. The show was supposed to air in September.

Bernstein and Flanell had been married for 16 years and they owned the Dragon Man shooting range for 33 years.


The victim's husband Mel Berstein remembered his wife. (Source: KOAA)

Mel Berstein and Terri Flanell were married for 16 years. (Source: KOAA)
Police are investigation and do not suspect foul play, however, Sheriff’s office spokesman Sgt. Joe Roybal said officers are not ruling anything out.

“She was the nicest lady you could ever meet and was very smart,” Bernstein said about his wife. “I lost my best friend.”

This story has been updated.

[car-15]

http://www.ar-15.co/forums/showthread.php?t=50919
[MOD EDIT: I just merged all of the Dragonmans incidents into a new thread so this link is no longer valid - but thank you anyway.]

[cofi]

any updates? i saw that they were open this weekend

[Clay Turner]

I'd be up for that ... especially if I'm forced to evacuate.

[theGinsue]

First-hand, I know Mel to be a hard-working, generous and fascinating guy who has built a successful biz with his family out of nothing. He's always treated my friends and family very well, and he's never had trouble with the BATFE, that I know of.

I'm glad to hear that you've had good experiences with Mel over the years. I wish I could say the same.

My interactions with him have been limited, but about 30% of the times I've dealt with him, out of nowhere I've been the recipient of a nasty attitude and just flat out rude treatment. Because there was no reason for the attitude, those times have over-shadowed the times when I was treated like a customer/guest. While I continue to go to Dragonman's when the situation warrants it, I try to keep those visits to a minimum. I typically don't like to go where I'm not wanted.

He told me that this is the first accident there in 30 years.

Well, that statement totally discounts the accident they had the day before the accident that took Terry's life. I'd say the results of the Wednesday accident would be sufficient enough to take note of.


***********
** UPDATE **
***********

Lacy was finally released from the burn center on Sunday and she is continuing her recovery at home.

While she'd still experiencing quite a bit of pain from her burns, the meds the doctors have provided have helped to mitigate the pain. Before the burn center would release her she had to demonstrate that she could change her own dressings without experiencing too much pain.

Her spirits are really good and she has a great outlook and can't wait to get back to shooting but her injuries are still taking a bit out of her so it won't be happening immediately.

Good news in my opinion.

[BPTactical]

Thanks for the update Thomas-next time you chat with her send our regards please.

[OneGuy67]

Thanks for the update Thomas-next time you chat with her send our regards please.

Yes, same here.