CHARLES DARWIN AWARD

The Charles Darwin Award is an annual honor presented posthumously to the person or persons who do the world genetic gene pool the greatest service by exterminating themselves in the most extraordinarily stupid way -- before reproducing in kind:

MAN DIES IN FREAK ACCIDENT

This is a True Story!?

A 39-year-old Charlottesville man died Thursday in a freak accident involving his washing machine. According to police reports, Samuel Randolph Strickson was doing laundry when he tried to speed up the process. Strickson apparently tried to stuff approximately 50 pounds of laundry into his washing machine by climbing on top of the washer and stomping the clothing into the wash tub.

Strickson apparently accidentally kicked the ON button. When the machine started, Strickson lost his balance and both feet went down into the tub where they got stuck.

The machine started the wash cycle and Strickson, unable to free himself, started thrashing around with the agitator. His head banged against a nearby shelf, knocking over a bottle of bleach. The bleach poured over Strickson's face, blinding him. Forensic reports say Strickson also swallowed some of the bleach. He then vomited, but was still unable to free himself. Strickson's dog apparently came into the laundry room. According to police reports, the most plausible theory is that a large box of baking soda fell from the shelf, startling the dog, who then urinated on the floor. Urine, like vinegar, is acidic, and the chemical reaction between the urine and the baking soda resulted in a small explosion. The dog escaped unharmed.

Strickson remained stuck in the washing machine, which eventually went into its high-speed spin cycle, spinning Strickson at about 70 miles per hour, according to forensic experts, Strickson's head then smashed against a steel beam behind the washing immediately killing him. A neighbor heard the commotion and called 911, but Strickson was pronounced dead at the scene.