Soap Lake man injured by homemade pipe bomb

LAKEVIEW — Deputies are investigating after a Soap Lake man was injured and hospitalized Friday night when a homemade pipe bomb exploded.

About 6 p.m. neighbors near the 100 block of Adrian Avenue Northwest, in the Lakeview community, contacted 911 after hearing the sound of fireworks. As deputies were investigating the report, staff at Columbia Basin Hospital in Ephrata advised that a man was driven to the emergency room after receiving blast injuries and shrapnel wounds to his right hand and arm.

Deputies discovered the 55-year-old male had been building and handling a pipe bomb inside his residence on the Adrian Avenue Northwest when the bomb detonated. The man was airlifted to a Spokane hospital for further treatment.

Deputies and the Spokane Bomb Squad responded to the scene to ensure no other bombs were inside the residence. Deputies are continuing to investigate the incident.

— Staff report