Wheelchair user taken on 50-mph ride - U.S. Life - MSNBC.com

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.

This happened about an hour from us.. The local news is all over it. The guy was pretty much unfazed about it.. Said he would need a new wheelchair do to the speed and the pavment heat/friction on the wheels... Let me tell you the trucking company would be buying me more than an wheelchair.. NEW UNDERWEAR would be first on the list.

I live in Michigan too I thought it was pretty funny how he was pretty spirited about what had happened. Most people are sue happy so it made me happy how he laughed and shrugged it off.

Jen

Ya, I read this one too! I'm just glad it turned into a story that you could laugh at -- and I have to say that was one well made wheelchair!

I caught this story on the news and it seemed the the man wasn't even really shook up it. He was just glad that his wheelchair was repaired quickly. I would have been flipping out!!

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Exactly how is this the trucking company's fault? This man crossed in front of the truck and obviously so close he got stuck. The driver had no way of knowing he was stuck to the front of the truck. It isn't like he could have seen him if he walked to the truck from the back side. This way the guy in the wheel chair's fault 100%.

The man in the motorized wheel chair was at a cross walk, he had the right of way. Due to the extra time it takes in a wheelchair he didn't get across when the semi drivers light turned green (I've had it happen to me as you walk kids across the street, the walk sign doesn't give you much time) So, as the semi took off he spun the wheel chair around, fortunally for the guy the handles got stuck, he pushed him several miles..At speeds in excess of 55. God was with all of them because just as easily he could have gone underneath or had been dragged.

The trucking company has been cited for this accident. The wheel chair guy isn't pressing charges and says he's not going to sue.. And like I said they have bought him a new motorized wheelchair.. Glad it all turned out....

Wow... sounds like the news is giving 2 different stories or something. Where did you read that one Hope2? This is what I read in the paper.

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.

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