My PT Accident

[rainbow]

While I'm not naturally inclined to disclose the foolish things I do, this one needs to be told in the hope that others will avoid a similar (or likely much worse) fate.

I was working my brand new 425 ten days ago moving some dirt with my 4in1 bucket after dark. I was in a hurry 'cause it was getting late. After dropping one load I got off the 425 to get a better look at my drop point. When climbed back on the 425 from the right side, my left foot stepped on the reverse treadle rather than the floor behind the treadle, causing the 425 to jolt to the rear. My right foot was still on the ground and the right front wheel caught my right foot as the PT moved rearward.

The wheel pulled my right leg to the ground, and moved by left foot off the rear treadle. Before the 425 stopped, it had rolled over my right foot, up my leg, over my right knee and over my right thigh. The wheel stopped squarely upon my upper right thigh, pinning me to the ground. (advanced readers - decide what you would do next in this situation. )

I yelled for help three times, as loud as I could. The PT motor was still running and my boys had gone into the RV on the other side of our house building project. The neighbors were too far away. I tried to reach the key. I'm 6'3", but my long arms couldn't reach the key.

After an earnest prayer, I thought things through some more and decided if I was careful I could reach the forward treadle with my left hand. I rehearsed to plan in my mind, and then very lightly pushed the forward treadle that I could just reach. The PT rolled back over my knee and off my right leg. I could then reach up to the key and turned off the motor. Now they could hear my yells.

...four hours later I was home from the Emergency Room. No broken bones. No torn ligaments. No bad cuts. Just some minor abrasions, a dozen big nasty bruises, blue jeans with a totally ripped out crotch (with distinctive green paint along one rip where she kissed my behind) and two bottles of pain killers.

I'm truely thankful to God to be alive and whole.

So what did I learn?

1. Never get off or on the PT with it running.

2. If you need to run the PT without sitting on the seat, set the parking brake.

3. Don't work alone (If this is unrealistic, be extra extra careful when you do work alone).

4. Wear proper shoes and pants.

5. Don't hurry.

6. To avoid long Emergency Room waits tell them you got run over by a tractor
/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[J_J]

I am glad you were not hurt very much, and the older we get, the harder it is to recover. I think all of us get in and out of the Pt with engine running. I have stepped on the pedal also and had the machine move. I had a near miss once when I hung my leg off to the side and made a turn. I felt something touch my leg and moved it just in time from being crushed.

Tip. carry a cell phone with you

 

[ontheweb]

You were lucky. That's a whole lotta machine with serious weight and horsepower - a lot more hurt could've been put on you.

But, stuff just happens sometimes. Last week I was up north working. Guy I worked with took a break and went into town while I watch his two kids. They went to sleep so I took a walk down by the river about 100 feet away. Going down the stairs to the river (not realizing how icy they were) next thing you know I'm horizontal in mid air. Came down hard on the steps, knocked the wind out of me, and I bounced into the icy cold very fast flowing river. I was stunned for a few seconds trying to figure out what happened and luckily my head was above water.

No one around. Kids were asleep and too far away to hear me yell. I'm by myself in freezing water in northern Michigan with full winter clothes on. Fortunately, the only serious injury was my pride and a sore back once i got my breath back and swam to shore. Climbed up the steps and trudged back to the cottage to go get warm. It all happens in 1/2 second or less, and usually you don't get to see it coming.

That's why they call it 'experience'. You get another chance to learn from it.

OnTheWeb

 

[PowerTrom425]

Welcome aboard rainbow. Your 'could have been so much worse' accident is a perfect example of how the pluses of the PT's small size and stature can become a big minus! I'm glad you weren't seriously injured. I rarely get off the beast when its running, but when I do I am very mindful of the treadle peddle when I get back in. Make note of all the various shades of yellow, blue, purple, and black your leg turns as the bloody bruise settles towards your ankle /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif ..... this from a man who has done similar things before! Tom

 

[46mac]

I always (ALWAYS) set the parking brake when getting off my 425. In my part of the country with the hills and mountains there are way to many tractor accidents and deaths to not be careful.

 

[bubenberg]

i am under tremendous pressure from my "pt friends" the rats /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif, to to admit that doing the same thing i broke my right tibia. but in the life of a former selfproclaimed "pt test pilot" .... happens. i still have problems with that leg but am alive /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Good luck

 

[pequeajim]

I did the same thing when I first got my 425. Lucky for me, I was able to raise my foot quickly and I only nudged the tractor.

With my size 14 feet, you can imagine that they can easily touch the pedals if I'm not careful. I always set the parking brake now, or shut it off.

Say a prayer of thanks tonight and get better quickly. I'm glad that you're going to be ok. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[pajoube]

Thank you for sharing so that others may learn. I wish your first post was under better conditions but we are very glad you are ok.
PJ

 

[Harv]

Glad you came out okay, rainbow. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

I've been called paranoid by some, cautious by others 'cuz when I'm out tractorin' I keep a walkie-talkie strapped to my hip and a coach's whistle around my neck. The wife gladly carries the other walkie-talkie while going about her business around the house. The whistle idea came from a neighbor who says many folks in the area carry whistles as a matter of routine. Everyone is tuned in and will respond immediately to the sound of three whistle blasts. Cell phones are not dependable in our neck of the woods, and even the walkie-talkies have limitations due to the terrain, but them whistles seem to carry quite a distance no matter where you are.

Haven't had to use either for emergency purposes yet, and I hope I never have to, but your story makes me realize they're not such a dumb idea. Thanks for sharing. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

BTW -- I'm in northern Cal, too, in the Sierra foothills. Where are you?

 

[Bird]

That's scary, rainbow, but I'm sure you know you aren't alone. I've been guilty myself of hopping off the tractor to open or close a gate, move something out of the way, etc. without setting the park brake or putting the HST lever in neutral and a couple of times I've accidentally hit the hydro pedal when getting back on and caused the tractor to lurch forward or backward before I got seated; was just lucky and didn't hurt anything.