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Ever gone 50mph in a wheelchair?


thrasher
06-07-2007, 04:56 PM
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19088976/

PAW PAW, Mich. - A man was taken on a wild ride when his wheelchair became lodged in the grille of a semitrailer and was accidentally pushed down a highway for four miles at about 50 mph, authorities said.

The 21-year-old man, whose name was not released, was unharmed but was taken to a hospital as a precaution. He had been secured to his wheelchair by a seat belt.

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

About 4 p.m. Wednesday, a caller told police dispatchers, “You are not going to believe this: There is a semi truck pushing a guy in a wheelchair on Red Arrow Highway,” state police said in a release.

Prank call?
Authorities initially wondered whether the report was a prank call until others called with similar reports.

Officers stopped the truck — wheelchair still attached — at a trucking company. The driver didn’t believe officers until he stepped from his cab and saw for himself.

“When he saw us, he was like, ’What’s going on?”’ Morton said.

An investigation revealed the man in the wheelchair had pulled in front of the truck at a gas station and it somehow became lodged by its handles to the front grille.

Must have been one hell of a trip...it'll make a great story to tell the grandkids.

YogsVR4
06-07-2007, 05:19 PM
One heck of a scary ride - he had to wonder how long the chair would hold up.













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beef_bourito
06-07-2007, 05:40 PM
hahaha that'd be awesome.... unless you crashed and became paralysed from the waist down

BeZerK2112
06-07-2007, 06:02 PM
Makes me think what I would do in that situation as I smelt my tires burning... Most likely scream on the inside.

Oz
06-07-2007, 06:58 PM
:D Awesome story.

I wonder what state the wheelchair is in?

alphalanos
06-07-2007, 07:01 PM
Oh man that has to be scary. Imagine seeing that while youre driving. Luckily the chair didnt break of the driver would have felt awful.

blazee
06-07-2007, 09:09 PM
:D Awesome story.

I wonder what state the wheelchair is in?

Michigan. :D

stieh2000
06-08-2007, 03:54 PM
That must have been one helluva wheelchair to withstand 50mph for 4 miles like that.

I wish I could go for a ride like that, knowing that I would be safe of course.

2.2 Straight six
06-08-2007, 04:16 PM
never done that kind of speed in a wheelchair.

but have been in a shopping cart attached to a truck with a top strap. driving around an enormous parking lot going fully sideways. it was awesome.

speediva
06-08-2007, 10:14 PM
:D Awesome story.

I wonder what state the wheelchair is in?
I saw some footage of the condition of the wheels... pretty gnarly.

The guy said the ride was surprisingly smooth, though.

Bad81bu
06-09-2007, 12:29 AM
I have been in a wheelchair for about 10 years (paralized from the waist down from a motorcycle) now and i just dont see how that can happen, as the handles on the back of my chair (if they were there) didnt stick out farther than the wheels do in the back so i dont even see how it would have been possible,the bumper of the truck would have hit the tires first. plus the bearings in the front wheels would never have been able to stand that kind of speed, mine are roller blade wheels in the front and just dont see 50 mph hahahaha. Just find it really hard to believe.

What a ride tho.
Brett

00accord44
06-09-2007, 12:42 AM
tis true. I saw the vid on CNN after it happened. The handles looked pretty long to me but they were most definitely wedged in the grille. Seems like maybe just the back wheels were touching and he was kinda tilted back. The guy in the chair said it was fun!

beef_bourito
06-09-2007, 07:08 AM
it looks like a self-propelled wheelchair, those have smaller wheels

YogsVR4
06-09-2007, 09:13 PM
Michigan. :D


:rofl:

good one













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jcsaleen
06-09-2007, 09:57 PM
One heck of a scary ride - he had to wonder how long the chair would hold up.

Haha that company that makes it must be very proud. Thier products have been tested up to 40 mph. :grinno:

Bad81bu
06-10-2007, 06:51 PM
Ahhhhhhh i didnt know it was a power chair, that makes a bit more sence to me now hahahaha im in a manual wheelchair and it never would have worked in my chair, i have had a few friends offer to push me with their pickup to see if it really works, hahahaha funny stuff, who needs enemies with friends like mine lol. Glad the guy was ok tho.

Yall have fun!
Brett

taranaki
06-10-2007, 11:40 PM
hahaha that'd be awesome.... unless you crashed and became paralysed from the waist down


ahem.........he's already in a wheelchair.............:rolleyes:

beef_bourito
06-11-2007, 07:10 AM
that was the joke

taranaki
06-11-2007, 09:59 AM
that was the joke

Excuse me if I find it as funny as a funeral.:disappoin

ericn1300
06-11-2007, 06:48 PM
that was the joke

i thought it was funny, bourito. i busted a gut when i read that post

beef_bourito
06-11-2007, 10:19 PM
thank you, i'm glad SOMEONE finally understands me *runs off to emo forum*

2.2 Straight six
06-12-2007, 07:14 AM
[quote]

PAW PAW, Mich. (June 8) - A 21-year-old man got the ride of a lifetime when his electric wheelchair became lodged in the grille of a semitrailer and was pushed down a highway for several miles at about 50 mph.

Ben Carpenter was unharmed but was taken to a hospital as a precaution. He had been secured to his wheelchair by a seat belt. Carpenter, who has muscular dystrophy, told a television station that he thought he might not make it through the ride.

"I was probably thinking that this is going to keep going and not stop anywhere, 50 or 60 miles somewhere," he told WOOD-TV of Grand Rapids.

Ben Carpenter's father, Donald, told The Associated Press that his son had started to cross at an intersection Wednesday afternoon in Paw Paw, about 140 miles west of Detroit. The light changed to green while his son was in front of a semi, which started moving.

The wheelchair's handles became lodged in the grille, the father said, and the wild ride started.

Motorists called 911 on their cell phones, and a pair of undercover police officers who happened to be nearby saw what was happening. They pulled the truck over and told the disbelieving driver, Donald Carpenter said.

The chair was undamaged except for losing most of the rubber on its wheels, he said.

"It's a very bad story that ended very well," he said. "We're just thrilled that he's still around."



http://cdn.news.aol.com/aolnews_photos/07/03/20070608094309990001
Ben Carpenter sits in his wheelchair, stuck to the grille of a semitrailer, on Wednesday near Paw Paw, Mich.

http://cdn.news.aol.com/aolnews_photos/00/05/20070608094009990015
Carpenter's father said his son was crossing a street when the light changed to green. Carpenter was in front of the truck when it started moving and snagged him.

http://cdn.news.aol.com/aolnews_photos/06/07/20070608093809990001
The truck pushed him down a highway for several miles at about 50 mph. Witnesses called 911 for help.

http://cdn.news.aol.com/aolnews_photos/01/02/20070608095309990007
Carpenter, 21, described his reaction during the ride: "I was probably thinking that this is going to keep going and not stop anywhere, 50 or 60 miles somewhere."

http://cdn.news.aol.com/aolnews_photos/0e/04/20070608093509990001
Carpenter was unharmed. "It's a very bad story that ended very well," said his father, Donald Carpenter.

jeffseby
06-13-2007, 12:19 AM
maan, that coulda been deadly real quick.

I wish someone would of gotten that on Camera Phone!!

jeffseby
06-13-2007, 12:21 AM
ohhhh, my power chair!

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