Will Punkin Chunkin survive?

The big question on everyone's minds is the fate of World Championship Punkin Chunkin.

With the terrible injury sustained by a producer working on the show and and then the cancellation of the Discovery/Science Channel Thanksgiving special, it would appear there are two strikes against the event's future.

The third strike could come when the Punkin Chunkin Association renews its insurance to cover the event. Although association members won't substantiate it, I've been told the cost of insurance for the three days of the event was in the vicinity about six figures.

The producer was hit in the head with a piece of metal as she ran from an exploding air cannon near the end of the three-day event. In a CNN interview, she said she was disappointed the show did not air. Blind in one eye, she faces a long stint in rehabilitation.

Was it a freak accident or an accident that could have been prevented? That's a question someone eventually will have to answer.

After a two-year hiatus, this was supposed to the comeback year for the popular, one-of-a-kind event.

Each year, the association works hard to keep people safe – those in the pit as well as spectators watching the event.

Ironically this year the association did a lot of things right. Safety precautions were as tight as ever. For the first time, everyone in the pits was required to wear a hardhat if they were anywhere near a firing machine.

All ATVs used for spotting landing locations of pumpkin shots were replaced with pick-up trucks, a much safer alternative for spotters.

Trying to dispel the impression that the event is nothing more than big drinking party, alcohol consumption was relegated to a new beer garden.

With protective screens in place, people were moved away from the rear of machines before they were allowed to fire. That annoyed spectators who were forced to stay far away from the action, but it's not unusual for pumpkins to fire backward.

Safety people and pit boss Charlie Joseph were in constant contact. He would not start a countdown without the go-ahead from safety personnel.

As I watched from the pits on the morning of the accident, a harness broke on a catapult and a pumpkin rocketed backward toward the crowd. Somehow it got past the protective screen barrier. Luckily it was early, the crowd was sparse and the pumpkin didn't cause any harm – but that danger is ever present during Punkin Chunkin.

Punkin Chunkin Association members are on lock down as far as commenting on the accident or even the event. We didn't know the name of the injured producer until nearly a month after the event.

So what's going to happen? I predict the following:

• If the event comes back in 2017, it's a safe bet that stricter safety regulations will be in place. Better inspections of machines – especially air cannons – would be at the top of the list.

• Will the Discovery/Science Channel stay with the event? A tainted track record may end the relationship.

• Will diehard team members and fans still support the event? That's a good question. The association will need to do some work to restore faith in the event.

A major boost would be the airing of the 2016 Discovery/Science Channel show.

Personally, I hope Punkin Chunkin survives. I look forward to attending each year and capturing its drama. I know that those associated with Punkin Chunkin have a passion for it – they will do everything in their power to keep the event going.