Teen's braces save his life
Categories: Teens & tweens, Health & safety, Weird but true
Most kids wear their braces grudgingly. The pay-off for the pain is usually a long time coming and teens aren't known for their patience. But there is at least one kid who got more than he bargained for from his braces, and he didn't have to wait years for it.
Police in Pontiac, Michigan say that 18-year-old Anthony Pittman's braces probably saved his young life. Pittman was among a group of teens who got into an argument that turned into a gunfight. At least three different weapons were fired and a bullet from one of them - a .45 caliber - hit Pittman in the mouth. Police believe that Pittman survived the injury because his braces fragmented the bullet.
"We believe what happened is that the bullet was split, in part by the braces, so it fragmented and continued into his mouth, tongue and teeth," said Pontiac police Capt. Wendy Keelty. "But because it was fragmented, it didn't penetrate through the back of his neck.
Pittman didn't escape completely unscathed. He is currently in critical condition with a mouth full of broken teeth and a severely injured tongue. He may not end up with straight teeth, but hopefully the experience will lead him to straighten out his life and choose some better kids to hang with.
Police in Pontiac, Michigan say that 18-year-old Anthony Pittman's braces probably saved his young life. Pittman was among a group of teens who got into an argument that turned into a gunfight. At least three different weapons were fired and a bullet from one of them - a .45 caliber - hit Pittman in the mouth. Police believe that Pittman survived the injury because his braces fragmented the bullet.
"We believe what happened is that the bullet was split, in part by the braces, so it fragmented and continued into his mouth, tongue and teeth," said Pontiac police Capt. Wendy Keelty. "But because it was fragmented, it didn't penetrate through the back of his neck.
Pittman didn't escape completely unscathed. He is currently in critical condition with a mouth full of broken teeth and a severely injured tongue. He may not end up with straight teeth, but hopefully the experience will lead him to straighten out his life and choose some better kids to hang with.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
LRAdams 7-16-2008 @ 9:23AM
This is absolutely an amazing story. This more than a million to one incident it is almost a miracle. A 45 cal round on the average travels 950 feet per second and averages 371 foot pounds of energy. It should have blown off the back of his head. He is really lucky. I am making an assumption here that the weapon was not ACP .45 and was a Saturday night special so the round was tumbling. Even so amazing. While he cannot sing he should at least be humming *Oh what a friend we have in Jesus* But certainly not the Joe Cockers song *I can get by with A Little Help From My Friends*
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WAYNE 7-16-2008 @ 9:55AM
I GUESS HE GOT AWAY BY THE SKIN OF HIS TEETH
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Amelia 7-16-2008 @ 12:16PM
I always thought my braces might be good for something.
Maybe I should have kept them on longer? Hopefully a retainer will do.
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