Monday, June 11, 2007

Mixed Grille

Wheelchair Man Gets Surprise Highway Ride

A man in a wheelchair was taken for a high-speed ride along a US highway after his handlebars became tangled up in the front grille of a truck. The back of Ben Carpenter's wheelchair was scooped up and the driver was completely unaware that he had a new passenger, kept in his wheelchair by a seatbelt. Passing motorists told police, who found the man unhurt. Officers in the town of Paw Paw, Michigan, said Mr Carpenter had told them "it was quite a ride", but complained only that he had spilled his soda. The truck driver refused to believe there was a man in a wheelchair stuck to the front of his truck until he saw it for himself, police said. To view the photograph, check out BBC.

15 comments:

Movie Mazaa said...

David

Sorry for the late response.

Its my first time over to ur blog, and I shud say that u r such a prolific writer, that I might have to spend a very long time here, before I would be able to finish off reading what u have written! Wow!! :)

I just love the way variegated instances of life from across the world have found a mention on this blog. It could be such an inspiration for budding bloggers like me!

I hope u wouldnt mind my linking to you..
:)

I will be around for much, much more..

david mcmahon said...

Hi Velu,

What a lovely surprise to hear from you. No worries at all about the late response.

I'm so glad your first viit to my blog was a fruitful one and I hope you do indeed return to take in the spirit of fun!

Thank you for commenting on the editorial mix - as you can see, there is something for everybody here, I guess.

If I am anything of an inspiration for budding bloggers, I thank you for your kind and generous acknowledgement.

It would be terrific if you linked to me - and I will add you to my blogroll, too.

Keep smiling

David

Jenera said...

I saw this on the news two nights ago. My husband is a truck driver and he couldn't fathom how the guy could have hooked the wheelchair without knowing at all.

david mcmahon said...

Hi Jenera,

Absolutely spot-on. If you look at the footage or even the photograph, it's apparent that the wheelchair got hooked from behind, ie: the wheels were facing exactly the same angle as the truck's wheels.

Consider this: if the wheelchair's wheels were slightly out of kilter and at a slightly different angle to the truck's wheels, the guy would have been run over and killed.

One lucky dude!

Cheers

David

Lady_T said...

That sounds too amazing...and weird actually. I mean if I think about it, the driver SHOULD have been facing forward which means he would have seen the wheelchair WAY before he got to it. Secondly, how fast was this truck going and third, why was a guy in a wheelchair on the highway?

Thanks for visiting David, I love the pictures you take and the articles in your blog...amazing!

I'd be honoured to be added to your list of recommended sites.

david mcmahon said...

Hi Lady T,

Wish I knew all the answers. The guy is so lucky to be alive. Maybe he'll sell his story for a six-figure interview!

And thanks for giving me the green light - I've added you to my blogroll.

Cheers

David

Movie Mazaa said...

David

Dropped by again, to point out that I have already linked you to my MustReadBlogs List!! :)

Will be back for more!

Gud day!!
:)

Shrink Wrapped Scream said...

I saw this on the news. He was crossing at a stop light, when the lights changed before he made it to the other side. The truck drivers cab was too high up for him to see him, and the grill nudged the handle on the back of the wheelchair, where it became wedged tight! The guy in the wheelchair gave an interview, and didn't appear at all ruffled by his experience. Amazing.

Anonymous said...

Carpenter had told them "it was quite a ride", but complained only that he had spilled his soda.

What an amazingly coool sense of humor! And he even adds: "I mean I would have been dead way before that," he added." - he really knows what he's talking about!

Thank you for adding me to your blogroll david, its a real priviledge for me to be listed!

karoline in the morning said...

my word! he must have aged a millenia in the distance he was trucked...

k

david mcmahon said...

Hi Velu,

That's terrific, thank you very much for linking me to your blog.

As you can see, I've linked to both your blogs.

Hope to see you back again - an to see more posts on your sites.

Cheers

David

david mcmahon said...

Hi Carol,

Lovely to hear from you. Thanks for that perspective. I was amazed at how cool, calm and collected he was.

Cheers

David

david mcmahon said...

Hi Sanjay,

No problem - it was my pleasure to add you to my blogroll.

Yes, the guy had his priorities right - he was just worried about his drink! What a cool customer.

Cheers

David

david mcmahon said...

Hi Karoline,

Yes, I aged a bit too - just by reading his story!

Cheers

David

FHB said...

Saw that on the news. How the hell does that happen?