Mont Belvieu, Texas Man dies in tractor accident

[farmboy12]

I deal with a lot of people everyday, and I never even think about that stuff...death...terrible word.


Kyle

 

[JC-jetro]

Sad story. May he RIP.

JC,

 

[Soundguy]

ditto... I imagine it was a pretty terrible few seconds.. wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy...

soundugy

 

[patrick_g]

Well, gee... I think I may stop standing on top of my PHD frame to add my weight to try to get it started digging while it is running. I also think if I can't get it to dig while operating the controls in the cab, then maybe the hole can be hand started with a pick and or shovel. If discretion is the better part of valor I am going to demonstrate more valor and try to be VERY discrete.

Makes me shudder to think how close I may have come to disaster and not have known it while being a little too free and easy with my PHD.

What a terrible thing to happen to such a young person. Hopefully, his example will not be wasted on the rest of us.

Pat

 

[Soundguy]

I've seen some antique PHD's that have a weight hook on them.. and one that takes a long pole so a helper can stand well away.. like 8' nd guide the auger in and press down on it.

Boy.. imagine the old chain drive loaders and phd's.. I bet osha would faint!

soundguy

 

[patrick_g]

My PHD (new 7 years ago) came with a hole (socket?) in the back of the gear box to accept the steel tube with a handle on it (came with PHD and was about 3 1/2 feet long with rubber grip on one end that constantly slipped off in use) to help manipulate the implement from a more safe distance. The tube was not very robust and bent right away. I will be trying to find a more robust replacement as I have a desire to NOT have anyone near the thing when turning.

Pat

 

[Kfbeal]

Our Rhino PHD purchased probably 20 years ago had a 5' handle bolted to the gearbox for leverage. It ended up getting broke when we lent it to some neighbors but it was handy.

 

[JoelD]

These are tough stories to hear about but important to learn from.

I lost a good friend about 15 years ago, he drawned in Hawai on his honeymoon learning how to scuba dive, I was on my honeymoon at the time at Disney. Last time I saw him was at his bachelor party, I remember he said to me "joel you are like the big brother I never had" (I procured the "entertainment" for his party). Phill was 21 years old, had just graduated from Northeastern University with my Brother and was just starting his life.

I'll never forget what my best friend at the time (John) said to me when I told him Phil had passed, he said to me: "Joel, when you think you have problems, Phil would give his right arm to have your problems". Those words will stay with me.

It's true, can never be too careful.

Thanks for passing this story along.

Sincerely,
Joel

 

[Soundguy]

My PHD (new 7 years ago) came with a hole (socket?) in the back of the gear box to accept the steel tube with a handle on it (came with PHD and was about 3 1/2 feet long with rubber grip on one end that constantly slipped off in use) to help manipulate the implement from a more safe distance. The tube was not very robust and bent right away. I will be trying to find a more robust replacement as I have a desire to NOT have anyone near the thing when turning.

Pat

try a heavy wall steel pipe.

Guy I know welded a female threaded fitting to his PHD frame, and just screws in a long pipe with a threaded end when he needs leverage.

soundguy

 

[Cat_Driver]

...I am glad I returned the wave. I've thought severl time that I was most likely the last person to give this guy a friendly gesture. It still gets to me. I drive by every day like normal. The schools all have their flags at half staff this week. I get a little choked up every time I pass by.

You know, I think it would be a great gesture to relate the story of the guys wave to his family either in person of via a note.

Family always wants and or needs to hear about the last moments o fa loved ones life and this guy's last moments were beautiful - sitting on his tractor waving at complete strangers, ya, he lived a good life, short but definitely good.