Medical Examiner Confirms Man Died When Vape Pen Exploded

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – The Pinellas County Medical Examiner released a report Tuesday, May 15, confirming that a 38-year-old St. Petersburg man died when his vape pen exploded.

St. Petersburg Police and Fire Rescue have been investigating the death of Tallmadge D’Elia since May 5 when they were called to a house fire at 316 19th Ave around 9:29.

Rescue workers found D’Elia dead inside his burning bedroom where there was “extensive” fire damage.

The medical examiner has now concluded that D’Elia died when his electronic cigarette exploded and a piece of the device was propelled into his skull. He also had burns on about 80 percent of his body, according to the medical examiner.

D’Elia was using a brand of vape pen called Smok-E Mountain, the report said.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has received a few reports of vape pens exploding, however, this is the first reported fatality due to a vape pen explosion.

A vape pen is a type of electronic cigarette that is filled with a liquid to produce a vapor, which the user inhales.

The USDA said the reason for the explosions are a mystery.

“You may have heard that e-cigarettes, or ‘vapes,’ can explode and seriously injure people,” said the USDA on its website. “Although they appear rare, these explosions are dangerous. The exact causes of such incidents are not yet clear, but some evidence suggests that battery-related issues may lead to vape explosions.”

The FDA offers the following safety tips:

· Use vape devices with safety features such as firing button locks, vent holes and protection against overcharging.

· Keep loose batteries in a case to prevent contact with metal objects like coins or keys in your pocket.

· Never charge your vape device with a phone or tablet charger. Always use the charger that came with the vape.

· Don’t charge your vape device overnight.

· Replace the batteries if they get damage or wet.

The FDA asks the public to report a vape explosion or any other unexpected health or safety issue with a vape.

Image via FDA