Funniest trucking "incident" ever

[Sheepdancer]

Semi-truck takes man and wheelchair for a ride down Red Arrow Highway

Tribune Staff Report

PAW PAW, Mich. -- A 21-year-old man was taken on a wild ride Wednesday afternoon when the wheelchair he was in became attached to the grille of a semi-truck and was taken four miles down a highway at about 50 mph.

The man, whose name police did not release, was not injured. The driver was unaware he was pushing the man, according to a news release from the Michigan State Police.

Authorities began receiving calls about 4 p.m. that the semi was traveling westbound on Red Arrow Highway, just outside of Paw Paw, with the wheelchair.


"You are not going to believe this, (but) there is a semi pushing a guy in a wheelchair on Red Arrow Highway," an unknown caller told the Michigan State Police.

Police at first believed the calls were pranks. But when troopers responded to the Ralph Moyle Trucking Co. at 39269 Red Arrow Highway where the semi had come to a stop, they noticed the wheelchair with the man sitting in it, still attached.

"It was quite a ride," the man reportedly told police.

"The man spilled his soda pop, but he wasn't upset," Sgt. Kathy Morton of the Michigan State Police said.

Police said the man was unharmed and unfazed by the incident.

The driver was in disbelief when he stepped out of the semi and saw what he had picked up along the way, police said.

"When he saw us, he was like, 'What's going on?'" Morton said.

An investigation revealed the driver had pulled out of a local gas station when the man in the wheelchair pulled in front of the semi, according to police. His wheelchair somehow became lodged by its handles to the front grille.

"Thank God the semi didn't go on (Interstate) 94," Morton said.
http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps...ws01/706070318

[Jackrabbit379]

Dang! That would be different. :shock:
Yeah, I would say that it's a good thing that they werent going down the interstate.

[Roadhog]

This caught my eye too off the headlines. I am very familiar with this
area, as I drop and load fruit out of Cold Storages in Hartford, and Lawerance...off this Hwy.

Good thing the State Police Post is just up the road from this location. This could have been a horrible end.

[PackRatTDI]

That wheelchair held up pretty good considering it was going probably 25 times it's top speed.

[Roadhog]

I don't know...when we were kids...we use to race these things down steep hills...and I remember passing Ramblers.

[Hat Rak]

Can you imagine the look on that truck driver's face when he stopped and walked around to the front of his truck!

As the article says, it's a damn good thing he didn't take I-94.

[mapleleaf_1]

I read about that too. I still can't believe the driver didn't know he was there. When I'm at a stop I watch people crossing in front of me and coming by on the other side. Guess it's just a habit of mine from years of driving school bus. That man sure had his guardian angel with him.

[PackRatTDI]

I read about that too. I still can't believe the driver didn't know he was there. When I'm at a stop I watch people crossing in front of me and coming by on the other side. Guess it's just a habit of mine from years of driving school bus. That man sure had his guardian angel with him.

Consdering how low the guy was in the wheelchair, he could have easily been hidden by the hood the entire time if he had come from the right side.

[Mr. Ford95]

To add to PackRat: Especially if the driver was looking left when he pulled out making sure he was clear. Just a habit with cars or trucks, I never cross in front of them until I make eye contact with them if they are getting ready to pull out.

[BigWheels]

50 MPH--Unbelievable! I bet that there were a ton of double-takes and jaw drops when that convoy went by!

[Mr. Ford95]

Gonna have to go get me some of them Firestone's that were on that wheelchair. Can't believe he didn't have a blow out.

[Jackrabbit379]

Yeah, well, what would have happened if one of the front wheels would have turned. :shock:

[DaveP]

Keep your eyes and ears open...this may just become the next big Olympic Sport!

[Mr. Ford95]

Who said the front wheels were on the ground?? :wink: May have been pulling a wheel stand the whole way.

[silvan]

I read about that too. I still can't believe the driver didn't know he was there. When I'm at a stop I watch people crossing in front of me and coming by on the other side.

So do I, but I've lost at least one entire big green SUV in that blind spot at the front, in spite of my most attentive effort. You can only look at one place at a time, and it's all just a question of timing. He's coming from the left when you're looking to the right, or whatever, and there you go. It would be extremely easy to lose a person in a wheelchair in front of any truck, cabover or conventional.

That's why a smart person walking in front of a truck always makes eye contact with the driver while passing in front. If you can't see the driver's eyes, he can't see you either. That's why modern school buses have that flip-out walk-around guard thing, to force kids to stay out of the blind spot.

I don't see any answer to that other than to make all trucks cab-forward cabovers with the driver sitting a few inches off the road, like a fourwheeler.

[allan5oh]

I see two possibilities:

1) the truck driver stopped way too far up, too close to the pedestrian corridor.

2) The wheelchair bound individual cut across where he wasn't supposed to be crossing.

Another thing, why the hell did he start crossing just before the light turns green? The sign says "don't walk" for a fricken reason!

[Jackrabbit379]

Who said the front wheels were on the ground?? :wink: May have been pulling a wheel stand the whole way.

Good point. He may have had a willy popped the whole time. :P

[PackRatTDI]

http://www.break.com/index/truck-pus...for-miles.html <- 911 calls. The third caller needs to get a damn grip! :?

[silvan]

http://www.break.com/index/truck-pushes-wheelchair-for-miles.html <- 911 calls. The third caller needs to get a damn grip! :?

Damn. You're not kidding about that. I haven't heard a woman freak out like that since the last time my wife had to make a decision about something.

[Jackrabbit379]

http://www.break.com/index/truck-pushes-wheelchair-for-miles.html <- 911 calls. The third caller needs to get a damn grip! :?

Man, that was one crazy lady. :shock: :?