2 yr old dies from zero turn mower

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

Oh, aren't you all so perfect!

No sympathy for the father? I can't imagine the horror of seeing your child hacked up and that picture for ever ingrained in his memory. Accidents do and always will happen.

Agreed, and on top of that, knowing that it was entirely your own stupid fault.

 

[jerrybob]

Tragic for the child and family.........there is a saying for the father......you can't fix stupid.

 

[kidr]

Sure. But letting a child ride a lawnmower is an act of stupidity. I didn't claim to tell him that to his face. He either knows it, or he never will.

I can tell you from past discussions there are a lot of stupid people on this site when it comes to this subject.

 

[LD1]

I'm stupid.

 

[Deere Dude]

I can tell you from past discussions there are a lot of stupid people on this site when it comes to this subject.

A big factor for me is being under the influence while driving a difficult machine that needs all your attention to drive. And then put a couple kids on it. That takes a special kind of stupid.

 

[Ortimber]

I'm stupid.

Me too. Although I would never consume alcohol when operating machinery. That's a recipe for unintended consequences.

 

[LD1]

I have no problem sipping a beer while mowing my lawn or doing loader work either.

 

[kthompson]

I am not trying to dismiss in any manner how bad his actions were. Sadly there are many killed ever day by a drunk at the controls.

Having used a ZTR for many hours the last few years it is one machine that demands at least "my" full attention.

 

[9973720wb19]

As we age, become adults, we learn from years of experience. Why do we seat-belt a child into our car? Because we know better. We understand what "could happen". Children don't have our life experiences and sense of precaution for what could happen. They totally rely on trusted adults (parents) from food to safety...they are innocent based purely on age. These types of actions are why we have laws. Laws like: helmet law, seat-belt law, drunk driving law, are unfortunately necessary. Perhaps there should a "one seat one rider law"?

 

[MossRoad]

What if God gives you a defective brain.... who's fault is it then?

 

[arrow]

Its inexcusable, and ridiculous! No parent should endanger a child in this way under ANY circumstances. It is a blatant disregard for the machine, the child's life, and it is just plain stupidity wrapped in neglect and tied with a bow of ignorance and brazen disregard for life.
Every mower tells the owner/user to keep all people and pets far away from the machine, to not leave it running when stopped, to take the keys when not being attended by the owner/operator.
It's NO ACCIDENT when things like this happen. This is a case of preventable manslaughter caused by an ignorant, stupid, worthless, POS individual who deserves the maximum sentence allowed by law.
Suffer his brain with the consequences of his actions, for the rest of his miserable life. Too bad, play, you pay. In this case an innocent life was rendered meaningless by the idiot driving the mower. His choice- take responsibility for one's actions as a supposed adult.

That guy who just killed 5 other people because he lost his job is a POS to me. That guy who just robbed and killed an owner of the business he just robbed is a POS to me. That guy who went home and fought with his wife then shot and killed her, his two children and himself is a POS to me.

You're using YOUR brain to think this is an "inexcusable endangerment"t as would perhaps 90% of anyone knowing of this accident. His brain saw this as a joy ride to make his daughter happy and I'm willing to bet this wasn't the first time he took her for a ride. Life is not as black and white for others as you have led yours.

It takes all kinds to make up this world. You can use all the disparagement you want for this man but he saw his daughter slaughtered before his eyes and it was something that he never thought would happen. Your comparisons are useless for such an individual. Perhaps he should have never been born right? Or never bred, or killed coming home from the bar. Whatever he was or wasn't before this happened, whether he pulled someone from a burning car once upon a time or lent a couple hundred to a neighbor who was down and out or was a complete disgrace as a person before this, he had the worst thing that can happen to a human being who is a parent happen to him AND HE NEVER EXPECTED IT or else he would never have done it.
That his child is dead at his hand is his supreme punishment for the rest of his natural life. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

 

[tjkubota93]

I'm not the judge and (hopefully) not the jury. I have no idea what he deserves.
As a young parent, having to live with that is the worst sentence I can think of. Something like that might kill you from the inside out.

 

[Coyote machine]

That guy who just killed 5 other people because he lost his job is a POS to me. That guy who just robbed and killed an owner of the business he just robbed is a POS to me. That guy who went home and fought with his wife then shot and killed her, his two children and himself is a POS to me.

You're using YOUR brain to think this is an "inexcusable endangerment"t as would perhaps 90% of anyone knowing of this accident. His brain saw this as a joy ride to make his daughter happy and I'm willing to bet this wasn't the first time he took her for a ride. Life is not as black and white for others as you have led yours.

It takes all kinds to make up this world. You can use all the disparagement you want for this man but he saw his daughter slaughtered before his eyes and it was something that he never thought would happen. Your comparisons are useless for such an individual. Perhaps he should have never been born right? Or never bred, or killed coming home from the bar. Whatever he was or wasn't before this happened, whether he pulled someone from a burning car once upon a time or lent a couple hundred to a neighbor who was down and out or was a complete disgrace as a person before this, he had the worst thing that can happen to a human being who is a parent happen to him AND HE NEVER EXPECTED IT or else he would never have done it.
That his child is dead at his hand is his supreme punishment for the rest of his natural life. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

Blah, blah, blah, You don't know a thing about me, AND this has nothing to do with me.
Whether he foresaw what he caused by his actions as an adult to an innocent child is ALL that matters.
Rant on all you want about who YOU think is a POS. Who cares what you think about irrelevant to this situation comparisons? Too bad if he has to suffer for the rest of his miserable life for his abject neglect for the child. End of story, case closed. Move on.

 

[timswi]

That guy who just killed 5 other people because he lost his job is a POS to me. That guy who just robbed and killed an owner of the business he just robbed is a POS to me. That guy who went home and fought with his wife then shot and killed her, his two children and himself is a POS to me.

You're using YOUR brain to think this is an "inexcusable endangerment"t as would perhaps 90% of anyone knowing of this accident. His brain saw this as a joy ride to make his daughter happy and I'm willing to bet this wasn't the first time he took her for a ride. Life is not as black and white for others as you have led yours.

It takes all kinds to make up this world. You can use all the disparagement you want for this man but he saw his daughter slaughtered before his eyes and it was something that he never thought would happen. Your comparisons are useless for such an individual. Perhaps he should have never been born right? Or never bred, or killed coming home from the bar. Whatever he was or wasn't before this happened, whether he pulled someone from a burning car once upon a time or lent a couple hundred to a neighbor who was down and out or was a complete disgrace as a person before this, he had the worst thing that can happen to a human being who is a parent happen to him AND HE NEVER EXPECTED IT or else he would never have done it.
That his child is dead at his hand is his supreme punishment for the rest of his natural life. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

I agree arrow..While I've never taken my daughter on any rides on my ZTR and never would and I agree that his motivations weren't criminal. This will more than haunt him forever as I'm certain he wishes he had that minute back as we all would. I can't even imagine this.

I used to take my daughter for rides on my 1950 8N with no ROPS belts or anything else. Guess I could fall into the social degenerate pool too. I was careful and no harm ever came, but could have it--absolutely. Could happen on our current quad rides too even though I'm just as careful as I was on the old Clagwell. I hear of these things happening on differing machines every so often sadly.

Again the ZTR was a fatal mistake for a joy ride and the guy certainly should have known better.

I'd say the booze (if true) was the primary fault and the rest was bad and fatal judgment. How many of us have looked back at stupid decisions that we got away with and said: My God! I put my hand up.

 

[arrow]

I'm not the judge and (hopefully) not the jury. I have no idea what he deserves.
As a young parent, having to live with that is the worst sentence I can think of. Something like that might kill you from the inside out.

There was a guy near me who ran over and killed his 3 year old only child as he was backing up a backhoe. He did not see him when the child ran out to be with his dad. He lived with this for 15 years. He committed suicide 16 years after it happened. His note stated that the only reason he did not kill himself earlier, was for the sake of his wife. That she had passed away, he no longer had any reason to live. In reality, his life ended from the day that accident happened.

 

[arrow]

Blah, blah, blah, You don't know a thing about me, AND this has nothing to do with me.
Whether he foresaw what he caused by his actions as an adult to an innocent child is ALL that matters.
Rant on all you want about who YOU think is a POS. Who cares what you think about irrelevant to this situation comparisons? Too bad if he has to suffer for the rest of his miserable life for his abject neglect for the child. End of story, case closed. Move on.

I know more about you than you think. The part you are correct about is "who cares".

 

[MossRoad]

... How many of us have looked back at stupid decisions that we got away with and said: My God! I put my hand up.

Me, too.

 

[conkli48]

Growing up i never rode on a mower with anyone, it is unsafe with the blades mowing. Terrible outcome for a tragic event. I did ride on the fender of many tractors growing up and always felt safe, i wasnt a 2 year tho, I was 6 or older. Never ran implements while riding. Lawn and Farm equipment is inherently dangerous and best be respected.

 

[Citydude]

That guy who just killed 5 other people because he lost his job is a POS to me. That guy who just robbed and killed an owner of the business he just robbed is a POS to me. That guy who went home and fought with his wife then shot and killed her, his two children and himself is a POS to me. You're using YOUR brain to think this is an "inexcusable endangerment"t as would perhaps 90% of anyone knowing of this accident. His brain saw this as a joy ride to make his daughter happy and I'm willing to bet this wasn't the first time he took her for a ride. Life is not as black and white for others as you have led yours. It takes all kinds to make up this world. You can use all the disparagement you want for this man but he saw his daughter slaughtered before his eyes and it was something that he never thought would happen. Your comparisons are useless for such an individual. Perhaps he should have never been born right? Or never bred, or killed coming home from the bar. Whatever he was or wasn't before this happened, whether he pulled someone from a burning car once upon a time or lent a couple hundred to a neighbor who was down and out or was a complete disgrace as a person before this, he had the worst thing that can happen to a human being who is a parent happen to him AND HE NEVER EXPECTED IT or else he would never have done it. That his child is dead at his hand is his supreme punishment for the rest of his natural life. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

Thanks Arrow. My family went through this 50 years ago. The community rallied around my uncle who let his 5 year old slip out of his arms while brush hogging. Senseless yes, and at the time we seen it as an accident and not disregard for human life. So, having real life experience, your words have wisdom.

My uncle was a great human being and a loving husband and father and took me under his wing when my father died. He lived with the "how could I let this happen" for the rest of his life. I would not wish this on anyone.

 

[arrow]

Thanks Arrow. My family went through this 50 years ago. The community rallied around my uncle who let his 5 year old slip out of his arms while brush hogging. Senseless yes, and at the time we seen it as an accident and not disregard for human life. So, having real life experience, your words have wisdom.

My uncle was a great human being and a loving husband and father and took me under his wing when my father died. He lived with the "how could I let this happen" for the rest of his life. I would not wish this on anyone.

Heck your welcome CD. There are people here with different experiences. Some utilize a sanctimonious stance in attempts to justify whatever reasons are theirs. Everyone deals with pain differently and to "matter of fact it" for some I guess mitigates the ordeal. It is also obvious who are the childless patrons on this forum if they think losing a child must be no big deal to certain types of people without knowing the people they refer to in the least.
Some people blame the squirrel they just crushed with their car because it was so ignorant to run out in front of them. Others blame the driver for not tooting the horn. Others feel sadly for just snuffing out an innocent life and still, others simply do not care. Different strokes is all.

Imagine if the community your uncle lived in were of that ilk and enjoyed kicking a good man down while he himself dwelt in a bottomless pit of despair. Certainly your outcomes may have been different if so.
May no one here have to face the aspects of bad things happening to good people to learn certain lessons in life. "Re do's" are not always available.

At any rate, as I said, it takes all kinds.