Unspeakable tragedy

[Renze]

i take kids that run around equipment i operate, with me in the cab so i know where they are. as long as you dont do weird things like wheelies, inside the cab is the safest place to be for a kid, because the operator controls the kids whereabouts, instead of having to look out for it.



Next to this tragedy, think of the firemen that have to collect the remains after this accident... I knew a fireman who has collected remains after a train suicide... The firesquad REQUIRED the involved men to take the rest of the day off, play some billiart on the base, and have a talk with a mental counselor: They were not allowed to go home and bother their wives and kids with what they had seen....

I respect firemen... They see what nobody else wants to see...

 

[creekbend]

I just prayed a silent prayer for the Family. Rest in Peace.

 

[ray66v]

This was not just an "accident" where circumstances took place that led to a tragedy.

If the reports I have seen are true, this was criminally irresponsible behavior, that resulted in a predictable outcome.

Had the father been an ignorant home owner who rented the chipper, and was completely oblivious of how dangerous it really was, (which still should have been totally obvious after using it for 2 minutes), I could understand how this happened.

But, an owner of a tree service, letting a child near one, let alone the fact that it looks like the child was loading it?

If you have never used on of these machines, you cannot imagine the rate at which the limbs accelerate as they shoot through it. You quickly realize that you need to use extreme caution to guard against being caught in the branches, and pulled in.

It's so incredibly sad that no one thought better of this, in time to prevent this tragedy.

 

[JDgreen227]

Not trying to d*** the father, but what Ray66v says is quite true. About ten years ago my wife's brother, who was in his 40's at the time, had rented one of those chippers and he lost half of two fingers because of how rapidly the machine grabbed the branch he was holding.

 

[arrow]

This was not just an "accident" where circumstances took place that led to a tragedy.

If the reports I have seen are true, this was criminally irresponsible behavior, that resulted in a predictable outcome.

Had the father been an ignorant home owner who rented the chipper, and was completely oblivious of how dangerous it really was, (which still should have been totally obvious after using it for 2 minutes), I could understand how this happened.

But, an owner of a tree service, letting a child near one, let alone the fact that it looks like the child was loading it?

If you have never used on of these machines, you cannot imagine the rate at which the limbs accelerate as they shoot through it. You quickly realize that you need to use extreme caution to guard against being caught in the branches, and pulled in.

It's so incredibly sad that no one thought better of this, in time to prevent this tragedy.

I agree with this 100%. Even if a homeowner rented one of these, he would find out in 2 minutes that this is a take no prisoners device let alone a man who has used one every day perhaps and had become complacent enough to allow his 6 year old near it and actually use it. There will be no consolation for these parents for the rest of their lives. The only possible benefit to this story is in its broadcast so as to thwart the concept that small children and dangerous and potentially deadly machinery can go together. Perhaps this to avoid what to a parent, is the most devastating heart break of all. My utmost condolences to this family.

 

[Dr_Zinj]

Not an unspeakable tragedy.
The only unspeakable tragedies are when nobody will talk about them, and nobody learns from them.

What this was was a horrible case of bad judgement on the father's part.

I never agree with pressing charges against people like him; the lifetime memories of the loss of his child is the only "punishment" necessary.

 

[jonyyuma]

What a price to pay for a few minutes of judgement?

 

[kebo]

Wow, how horrible! I know that family is just grieving their hearts out now. To make it worse, not only was the father experienced with that machine, he was doing a job at a neighbors yard! That involves the neighbors family as well, so you know that they are having heartache over it too.

Just so sad, and it could have totally been avoided. I say that because I am a firm believer that children should not even be around heavy or power equipment when it is being operated, this includes riding them on tractor for a little bit of fun with dad or grandpa, but I know this topic has been discussed numerous times in this forum so I'll say no more about the subject.

 

[Bill Hoffman]

Dr. Zinj,

You are certainly correct. I should have titled it
"Unthinkable Tragedy".

I don't know how this family will ever get past this.
The child's 2 siblings watched it happen.

Keep your kids safe, folks.

Bill

 

[yelbike]

Wow....... so sad.
I felt bad for yelling at my then 7 year son for following me right behind the wheel of my fordson super major. I had explained to him not two minutes prior that dad did not want to run over him so he should stay far away from the tractor.
Now I have smaller tractors with smaller blind spots but I also have smaller kids too. My 1.5 year old now runs after my tractor for a ride........I'm stuck........do give her a ride, she loves it, or do I not but than I have too look out for her.