A father-to-be has been killed after a gender reveal device exploded ahead of a baby shower.
According to New York State Police, Christopher Pekny, 28, was working on the device that was to be used for his child's gender reveal and bay shower on Sunday (February 21) when it suddenly exploded.
Pekny was killed by the blast and his 27-year-old brother Michael Pekny was injured and subsequently treated at the Garnet Medical Center in Middletown, according to police.
The loss of Christopher was mourned by The Robin Hood diner in Livingston Manor, which has been owned and operated by the Pekny family since the 1980s, in a statement.
The family wrote on Facebook: "We are deeply saddened and must inform you all of the loss of our dear and beloved Christopher.
"We appreciate the overwhelming display of love and support that you all have shown."
The New York Post reports that the incident remains under investigation.
However, this is far from the first time that a gender reveal has ended in tragedy.
Last summer, for example, a gender reveal party in California sparked a that's grown to 7,000 acres.
In a press release posted to Instagram, the El Dorado Fire in San Bernardino County confirmed that the fire was started by a "smoke generating pyrotechnic device" used during a gender reveal party.
"Law Enforcement has determined the El Dorado Fire, burning near Oak Glen in San Bernardino County, was caused by a smoke generating pyrotechnic device, used during a gender reveal party. The fire began at 10:23 am on September 5, 2020 in the El Dorado Ranch Park in Yucaipa. The fire spread from the park to the north on to Yucaipa Ridge that separates Mountain Home Village and Forest Falls from the City of Yucaipa." The statement reads.
The Cal Fire incident website revealed that the fire spread to cover 7,050 acres.
According to the site, more than 500 personnel were deployed to the scene of the blaze, including four helicopters and 60 engines.
A video that shows plumes of smoke billowing out of trees was tweeted by the Lieutenant of the Emergency Operations Division at San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.
"Fire is now 7050 acres with 5% containment. Still encroaching on the Oak Glen area & eastern Yucaipa. Evacuation orders extended to everything East of Bryant down to Yucaipa Blvd. Multiple SBSD Stations sending personnel to assist with evacuations," a following tweet read
