Leechburg police chief recovering from fireworks mishap

| Back | Text Size:

https://archive.triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/leechburg-police-chief-recovering-from-fireworks-mishap/

Leechburg police chief recovering from fireworks mishap

Tribune-Review | Monday, June 26, 2017 8:48 p.m.

Michael Swensen | Tribune-Review

Bob Kepics, 83, neighbor of Leechburg police Chief Mike Diebold, releases a floating lantern during a candlelight vigil held on Sunday, June 25, 2017.

Leechburg police Chief Mike Diebold, who lost half an arm in a fireworks mishap at Leechburg Volunteer Fire Company's annual carnival Saturday night, was “up and about” and walking around on Monday, but remains at UPMC Mercy, where he is in intensive care, his mother Karen Diebold said.

Diebold, 39, had been lighting fireworks mortars around 10:45 p.m. when one misfired, exploded and struck him. He lost his left arm, below the elbow, according to his mother.

State police from Kittanning are investigating the incident.