tragic accident

pete black · Jul 16, 2009

another senseless tragic accident involving a tractor occurred in n. alabama (timesdaily.com) yesterday. an 11 year old boy was riding on a tractor fender while the operator was bushhogging . the tractor hit something to bounce the young boy off of the tractor and foward motion of the tractor carried the bushhog over the child. he was pronounced dead on site.

caseihman94 · Jul 16, 2009

and that would be why my dad would never let me ride with him when he was brush hogging. now that I think of it, I should probably thank him for that...

rpirkle1 · Jul 16, 2009

Prayers to all involved...

Agree with CaseIHMan... need to thank our dads/granddads that refused to let us do that growing up.

Billy NY · Jul 16, 2009

Sad to hear of this, definitely a bad practice.

I used to ride the fender all the time, never thought much of it, but always knew what that mower could do regardless.

Thinking about it now, was probably foolish, given the same tractor and mower, no way I'd even consider it, knowing the risk, no matter how clean the field was, how quick you are to turn that pto off etc., (this one had independent pto)

When I rode with my dad, I felt safe, always perched myself good on that fender, seemed to have plenty of grip for hands and feet, but a good size chuck hole or something, hard to be sure what would or would not dislodge you, one of those things you used to do, but would never even think of doing today, so uh why were we doing it then ??? I used to ride the fender while on the road, that tractor a '64 4000 ford S-0-S was darned quick too, chances we used to take....

We lost a guy on the other side of the hill, he was running a 640 ford and rotary mower, apparently in rough terrain, reclaiming some overgrown land I think, he was found by his brother or family member, investigators figured he hit something, was bounced out of the seat, run over by the tractor and mower.

Hope the boys family is able to cope, that is a terrible loss, kind of senseless too.

Billy NY · Jul 16, 2009

A grim reminder about safety when it comes to this and all equipment

Accident

Billy NY · Jul 16, 2009

Another one, what in heck is a 2 year old doing in a cow barn by himself, that's enough news for me for the week, this is just sad, senseless too!
Another one, same news paper

Thresherman · Jul 16, 2009

Dad would never let ANYONE ride on the tractor any time a PTO was hooked up or the tractor was pulling something. Didnt get to ride the tractor much, but learned some good safty lessons.

lucas boy · Jul 16, 2009

IN MY BOOK THAT GOES FOR RIDING LAWN MOWERS TOO, DONT RIDE KIDS ON EM WITH YOU OR AROUND IT WHILE MOWING. SAW A FILM YEARS AGO ABOUT HOW MANY ARE KILLED OR AMPUTATED DOING THIS... LUCAS

Gun guru · Jul 16, 2009

That is about as dangerous as playing russian roulete.

buickanddeere · Jul 16, 2009

A search through past posts will reveal several people here who see no problem with riders. Or removal/non use of safety equipment.
They are all too smart, experienced, too fast and too strong to ever be involved in an incident.

a.rothermel · Jul 16, 2009

thats sad. I never ride on the fender while my dads brushhogging. but my dad and i both ride on the fenders all the time. I always felt like i have a good grip. were both slow drivers. But man is that a scary story to read. prayers to those involved.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 16, 2009

Some thing is wrong with your wording,,,,
you say,
I never ride on the fender,
then you say,
But my dad and I both ride on the fenders,

do you know that is a contradiction...

IndianaRed · Jul 16, 2009

He said he never rides on the fender while bush-hogging.

But thanks for your snide reply.

cj in wisconsin · Jul 16, 2009

Here in Wisconsin another case went all the way to the supreme court, a guy was mowing lawn and backed over his 2 year old, amputated both feet but the child lived. The family tried to sue John Deere supreme court justice Gableman who is also a customer of mine released a statement saying that parental negligence was the problem and they lost their lawsuit. Sad that the accident happened but the judge was right, don't put your kids in harms way. Its time to pay attention and stop the blamegame.

tlak · Jul 16, 2009

I don't let kids or pets around operating equipment or ride. If you think you can hold on, how many times in your life was something wretched out of your hand?

blinwmiaol.com · Jul 16, 2009

So how did you learn to do field work? I have a hard time buying that the discussion around the dinner table or what the ag teacher could teach did the job. There is absolutely nothing wrong with an appropriately aged kid riding on the fender of a tractor. The kid setting on the fender of a 30 or 4020 with a hand in the hand grip, butt on the fender and feet on the edge of the platform is just as secure as the person setting in the drivers seat. It doesn't take a lot of common sense to have the kid sit on the fender opposite of the haybine, baler or chopper. That is the way everyone of the kids in the family learned skills from our grandfather, and it will be carried on to the next generation the same.

zems · Jul 16, 2009

We always had to stay in the house when dad was bushhogging. Lesson learned from a local kid that was hit in the head from flying debris while he was playing in his yard. Usually rode on tractors with cabs. Only time I can remember riding on the cabless tractors was during cultivating or going down the road. What a tragic accident this was.

buickanddeere · Jul 16, 2009

Stood on the platform of a 2 cylinder Deere standard chassis while my Father was seated. Rare are other tractors that provide that functionality.
Full platform and fenders kept the tires out of touch and the access to the ground limited.
Today a tractor with a buddy seat and belt is the only way.
Claiming that one can sit on the top of a fender and stay safely seated is daft. You said it your self you would let somebody ride on the right side while cutting hay.

buickanddeere · Jul 16, 2009

I agree with go zeke so give me a blast of wrath too for thinking it's better to play it safe. And not kill or cripple somebody.

LouNY · Jul 16, 2009

I just love how all the safety POLICE crawl out of the woodwork when a kid gets hurt. No body wants a kid to get hurt and I would and will not let a kid ride when I am brush hogging, but when I am doing other chores I most certainly will. If they are not up on the fender how in the hell can they learn how to run tractors and equipment.The operator has to be carefull but whats new. I learned to drive on a WD picking rocks and driving while hay was being loaded. Steep hills side slopes and this while I was so young that I had to throw the hand clutch and the swing around and stand on the brakes. I could not count the number of hours that I have spent on fenders, and much more hazardous spots such as the drawbars. So while I am sorry when most anyone gets hurt on equipment, growup, pay attention, work safe and becarefull all the time but especially when training anyone how to use tractors and implements

buickanddeere · Jul 16, 2009

Are you bragging how you were in an unsafe situation via not being in full control of the tractor. Yet thanks to your near superhuman abilities, everybody went home unscathed.

Eric SEI · Jul 16, 2009

I know that lawn mowers have a switch under the seat that kills the engine if you get off, but do any farm tractors? That would be a real PITA when using augers, generators, and feed grinders.

E.B. Haymakin' · Jul 16, 2009

Local news reports in Mobile say that the boy killed was from Foley, Al near here. He was visiting friends, or family in the Florence area when the accident happened. Like others have said, prayers to all involved. I"m sure the lure of the equipment was strong for the youngsters, and tragically so. I really hope all of us on this web site find ways to discuss what we do with equipment to encourage others to take up the trade, but also mention the need for caution while learning. God bless those in this tragedy.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 16, 2009

there was a accident like that in our area last year accept it was a tractor with a cab the kid must have been holding on to the door handle, tractor hit a bump, kid pulled handle, door went open, kid fell out and got killed. so just cause there's a cab don't mean its not dangerous

Jiles · Jul 16, 2009

(quoted from post at 15:48:07 07/16/09) another senseless tragic accident involving a tractor occurred in n. alabama (timesdaily.com) yesterday. an 11 year old boy was riding on a tractor fender while the operator was bushhogging . the tractor hit something to bounce the young boy off of the tractor and foward motion of the tractor carried the bushhog over the child. he was pronounced dead on site.

While driving to town today, I saw a young woman mowing her yard with a riding lawnmower while holding a child in her right arm. The child looked about 2 or 3 months old.
Started to stop but the last time I did that, about a year ago, I was cursed and threatened!
Like DR Phil says, "there is an epedimic of lack of common sense"

tlak · Jul 17, 2009

Some law suit must of went through. Most, probably all riding lawn mowers won't mow in reverse.

LouNY · Jul 17, 2009

No, not bragging, simple statement of what was done to get the work done. AND IT WAS DONE WITH RELATIVE SAFETY, PAY ATTENTION TO WHATS AROUND AND MOST ACCIDENTS DO NOT HAVE TO HAPPEN,

Billy NY · Jul 17, 2009

I don't think they do, like you said, would be a pain to deal with. I think often times the content in news articles is stated by those who speculate, theorize etc., what would have saved this guy near me would have been a seatbelt and r.o.p.s, though the tractor stayed upright, he got bounced off, even if the tractor shut off, you still have all that energy in the driveline and mower. He needed to be secured in the seat, well, he probably did not walk the work area, it was rough terrain and knowing the trans on that tractor, has one less gear then my 850, he probably was going too fast for the conditions or should not have been in there with a tractor and mower.

I think the people who made the statements were basing them solely on what riding lawn tractors have, that safety switch in the seat, which I too find a pain when on side hills, though I'd not alter it, just have to scoot over to one side to keep traction and use one hand to push down on the seat, it's there for a reason, but I think the larger tractors old and new are not so prone to turn over like a lawn tractor, statements were not founded in that article.

rhouston · Jul 17, 2009

on mine you have to turn the key to another postion and push a button to mow in reverse. If you leave the key in the reverse position for too long (10 minutes or so) the desk will stop when you reverse anyway. Equipment is dangerous even my DR will chuck stuff 50 feet.

a.rothermel · Jul 17, 2009

i said i never ride on the fender WHILE BRUSHOGGING! wow make sure you read things 2 times before you make a fool of yourself.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 17, 2009

I would have to say, any one riding on a tractor fender is doing some thing Foolish, with or without a Brushhog,
but
It's your life, so enjoy what you have...
we have forty million reasons for failure, but not a single excuse.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 17, 2009

Thank you buckanddeere, some people just don't get it, then when something happens, they point the finger.

tragic accident

Well-known Member

New User

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Similar threads