William Brown of Texas was just one of a number of individuals who have died using vape pens. After taking the device in to get it looked at, the battery exploded. This has been identified as a trend in the United States, with 196 vape pen explosions and fire incidents between 2009 and 2016. In the case of William Brown, shrapnel from the e-cigarette severed his left carotid artery – a major source of blood to the brain. This left Brown severely injured with cerebral infarction and herniation. Brown was rushed to the hospital from the vape shop parking lot where the incident occurred and placed in a medical coma for his injuries. Much of the device remained lodged in his throat, causing an extreme threat to his life. He would eventually pass away from a stroke days later in the hospital. The severity of these incidents is extreme as the devices are close to victims’ heads when they explode in most cases. One particular story concerning a central-Florida man seized headlines due to the nature of his death. Shrapnel propelled by the explosion of his vape battery sent material into his head, killing him almost instantaneously. Vape pens have been marketed as a safe alternative to traditional cigarettes for years now. Despite this claim, a new risk has been presented to the American public that has nothing to do with the traditional risks of smoking. Recent news has shown that e-cigarettes have the potential to injure – or even kill – those smoking the novel nicotine devices.