Saw a guy get flung off his tractor

[Hans]

Driving North on the I-35 access road north of Dallas I saw an Orange tractor (about the size of a Kubota 3710) leveling dirt on the George Bush Toll Road embankment. Driver turned down the hill with his box blade and really accelerated. At the bottom of the hill he turned sharply while at the same time hitting the hardpan where the hill leveled out with access road. First the right side rear tire which was now at the bottom of the hill bounced about 6" off the ground. Then the uphill side tire bounced about 8" off the ground. This of course launched the driver. He tried to hang on but couldn't. His attempt to hang with his right hand put him in a worse position than if he would have been thrown clear. He did a 180 degree turn in the air and ended up standing next to the tractor facing the right rear tire (as if you were about to climb on.) Tractor must have been hydrostat because it stopped immediately. I belive this is the only reason he wasn't crushed.

 

[njrqs]

Nasty...........

Sure makes you stand back and take a bit of care next time we do something .........

Cheers

 

[Harv]

Yikes!

That fella sounds like he could be the new poster boy for why seat belts are a good idea.

I assume the machine had a ROPS?

Glad we wasn't hurt, and hope he had a fresh pair of jeans nearby. /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif

 

[Thomas]

Glad everything turn out okay,and I bet he was thanking his lucky stars.

Good thing it wasn't a GST. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

 

[Bob_Trevithick]

<font color=blue>...Tractor must have been hydrostat because it stopped immediately. I belive this is the only reason he wasn't crushed. </font color=blue>

Would that have stopped it quicker than the safety seat interlock system? Just curious. The only time I stood up to get a better view ahead, my engine started to die within less than a second. I got my fanny back down in time to keep it running.. but I was amazed how fast it reacted. (First diesel.. )

 

[Youare]

A few years ago while driving along a Florida highway while visiting the in-laws I was passing an area where some construction was being finished. There was a flat bed trailer with ramps down waiting for the loading of a large front-end loader. The trailer was not on nice level ground, the right wheels were in the ditch which put every thing on a slant.

My immediate thought was too much side hill angle, I hope they know what they are doing. As I was passing the tractor was just starting up the ramp, after passing I looked in the rear view mirror in time to see the driver bail off the tractor as it rolled side ways off the ramps into the ditch.

Puts a funny feeling in the pit of your stomach, at least the driver jumped up hill out of the way.

Randy

 

[TBone]

Chances are it didn't have a seat interlock system if it was the size of a 3710. If my M4900 had a seat interlock I would disconnect it because I frequently have to "raise up" in the seat when bush hogging in real thick stuff to avoid stumps, holes and other dangers (with the tractor in low 1st of course).

If I am working in vegetation that I know is free of stumps, holes etc. or it is where I can see I wear the seatbelt and stay in the seat.

TBone

 

[JJT]

There's no seat interlock on my L3710. and the 1 on my rider only workers when the mower deck is engaged.