This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: TCMitten Surnames: Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.wisconsin.counties.shawano/17028/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Associated Press Archive - July 15, 1998 Deceased Name: Eric Pluger - Teen-ager killed in prank to blow up mailbox A 17-year-old boy died Tuesday after he was struck in the throat by a piece of shrapnel from a mailbox blown up with a firecracker. Eric Pluger died after undergoing surgery, said Lt. John Gutho of the Shawano County Sheriff's Department. No criminal charges will be filed in Pluger's death, Shawano County District Attorney Gary Bruno said. "It was an accident." Pluger and five friends, ages 15 to 19, were driving around when they stopped at a home at about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, Gutho said. Two teens put a powerful firecracker in a mailbox, the sheriff's department said in a statement. "One teen closed the door on the mailbox and jumped in the back of the truck as the other teen was to drive the truck away fast," the statement said. The truck stalled, and when the mailbox blew up, the mailbox door or a piece of the door hit Pluger in the throat, severing his carotid artery, Gutho said. The teen-agers restarted the truck, drove to a nearby farm and called for help. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.