Don't leave vehicle running

cletus99 · Nov 13, 2013

This just happened this past Monday. It happened just around the corner from my house. I didn't really know the man, but met him once when my house was being built. He stopped by to introduce himself. Very nice man. The article says he was pinned between the truck and a fence, but he was actually run over and pinned under the vehicle. His teenage son was the one that found him dead under the truck. I never used to think much about getting out of my truck and leaving it running, but I might think twice now. Same goes for tractors or any other vehicle too. My coworker is also a volunteer fireman and he responded to the accident. He said it was awful.

Crash claims life in Worth County - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Midniteoyl · Nov 13, 2013

Sorry to hear this..

I hate working on my car/truck while running. I ALWAYS use the parking brake and block the tires. Even then, I spend as much time as I can on the sides and not in front/behind of the vehicle. Just makes me too nervous.

Wonder what caused the truck to jump into gear? Story doesnt say if he was working on/looking at it at the time? Any idea what year/model it was?

2LaneCruzer · Nov 13, 2013

Midniteoyl said:
Sorry to hear this..

I hate working on my car/truck while running. I ALWAYS use the parking brake and block the tires. Even then, I spend as much time as I can on the sides and not in front/behind of the vehicle. Just makes me too nervous.

Wonder what caused the truck to jump into gear? Story doesnt say if he was working on/looking at it at the time? Any idea what year/model it was?

Same here. I remember when the old Fords used to do that.

Gem99ultra · Nov 13, 2013

I remember my 1978 Ford pickup... Got a notice from Ford that to not leave the truck running while in Park, that there "might" be a chance that it would drop into reverse. Do you think they issued a recall for that? No Chance! Got a little sticker with a notice to put it on the dashboard that stated 'Do not leave running in Park to avoid chance of transmission dropping into reverse'

Some bean-counter must have gotten a promotion by saving an expensive fix with a 5-cent sticker.

cletus99 · Nov 13, 2013

Midniteoyl said:
Sorry to hear this..

I hate working on my car/truck while running. I ALWAYS use the parking brake and block the tires. Even then, I spend as much time as I can on the sides and not in front/behind of the vehicle. Just makes me too nervous.

Wonder what caused the truck to jump into gear? Story doesnt say if he was working on/looking at it at the time? Any idea what year/model it was?

I'm not sure what year model it was. He has two gates going in to his property and he pulled in through the first gate and got out to open the second gate when the truck went in gear and ran him over.

Here's another article from another news site. The article assumes it wasn't in gear, but my coworker that was on the scene said he believes it jumped out of gear.

Worth County Coroner Johnny Johnson was on scene just after 5 P.M. Monday at an Etheredge Road residence, near the Gintown Road intersection, in response to a fatal accident involving a man who had reportedly been run over by a vehicle.

Monday evening, the coroner explained the cause of death as blunt force trauma as a result of ‘a very tragic accident’. Gerald A. Etheridge was driving an old Chevy pick-up truck when he stopped, got out to open the gate to enter his yard and left the vehicle running. Apparently the vehicle was not in gear, moved forward and pinned Etheredge underneath the vehicle.

Mr. Etheredge was only 53-years old. He was employed with Demott Peanut Company.

dave1949 · Nov 13, 2013

My brother was making a delivery in one of those Fords, at a greenhouse, in winter. It didn't turn out well, but just broken glass thank goodness.

Sad story.

xtn · Nov 13, 2013

So it dropped out of Park into Drive?

Or perhaps it was in neutral and the approach to his gate is slightly downhill? This seems much more likely.

Either way I send prayers for his family.

xtn

Midniteoyl · Nov 13, 2013

Sounds like it was either a manual in neutral, or, he left it in gear by mistake. I have been known to do that when distracted. Though, I usually realize by the time I get out as the truck is already moving...

dmccarty · Nov 13, 2013

I wonder if he did not quite put it in park and it slipped out. But that would be the truck in reverse for the auto transmissions I have had. It was not clear to me but it sounds like the truck backed over him.

I knew a wildlife officer who finally got a brand new full sized patrol vehicle after many years of waiting. He was backing a boat into the Intercoastal Water Way when a fight broke out on the dock. He put the truck in park and ran to the fight. Except he did not really put the truck in park but in reverse or the tranny slipped into reverse. The fight pretty much stopped as his boat and brand new patrol vehicle went into the salt water..... He got suspended without pay for that Rah Ruh.

My truck is a manual but the other car is an auto. I use the parking brake all of the time because with a manual you have too. Good habit to have engrained.

Feel sorry for the family and friends.

Later,
Dan