Three children, one adult dead in farm tractor crash in York County, PA.

[SmallChange]

More details emerging:
"The tractor was pulling a trailer carrying 12 people down a farm road, near the 1100 block of Furnace Road. It was on its way to a recreational area."

Death Of Mother, 3 Children In PA Tractor Was 'Accidental': Police

A mother, two of her children, and a third child were all killed during the incident. The cause remains unknown.

patch.com

(though this seems to contradict earlier photos showing the tractor was traveling on Furnace Road itself)

Are we sure those are rubber blocks on the steel wheels? They're awfully small. I've been looking at rubber additions to wheels online and they're bigger than these seem to be. This is just thinking out loud trying to understand, but I think the paved road for automobiles is steep enough for steel wheels to skid trying to hold back the weight of the tractor plus trailer plus 12 people (even if most of the people were children). The wheels I'm finding online that look like the accident photos, but closer up so it's easier to tell the difference, look metallic to me.

 

[Evan1054]

Unless the law changed recently, carrying passengers in any kind of trailer while driving on a public road is prohibited here in the Commonwealth of PA. My sympathies are with the victims and their loved ones.

 

[scaredychicken]

it makes me wonder if the tractor was being partially driven on a weak shoulder as it avoided obstructing the road traffic ... one side on gravel, other side on pavement. and weight imbalance / seating on the trailer itself.

My sympathies are with the victims and their loved ones.

yes

it's a sad event, and condolences for those and the community impacted

 

[tacticalturnip]

it makes me wonder if the tractor was being partially driven on a weak shoulder as it avoided obstructing the road traffic ... one side on gravel, other side on pavement. and weight imbalance / seating on the trailer itself.

I wouldn't be surprised if you were right, unfortunately

 

[rd_macgregor]

It is always possible that the tractor driver looked back at the trailer at the wrong time and steered wheels onto the edge. Things like that can happen really quickly.

 

[scaredychicken]

rd_macg - true

 

[tradosaurus]

Operator inattention? Operator health issue?
Dry rotted tire?
Underinflated tractor tire which ran off the wheel rim?

The operator is toast relative to liability.
Operator may be charged with four (4) counts of involuntary manslaughter.

Before hoping the driver gets jail time and sued to oblivion let the facts come out first.

 

[Hay Dude]

Before hoping the driver gets jail time and sued to oblivion let the facts come out first.

Indeed.
I have driven/shared those roads with the Amish thousands of times. One thing that may have happened that I see happen: An Amish SMV/tractor, with family on board a trailer, is common to see. They will use them to go from field to field or bring vegetables home from a day of picking, going to church, visiting friends, etc.
Impatient, aggressive drivers will pass them on blind hills/curves. Sometimes when they carelessly pass that way, an oncoming car will appear. The passing driver will then be left with a few undesirable decisions: Head on collision, or slam into the side of the Amish buggy or farm tractor. It’s difficult to go back behind the SMV because many times the next driver in line took the passing driver’s place.

Seen it before my eyes. People run the amish slow moving vehicles right off the road. Beautiful Amish families, just trying to make a living, go to church or enjoy our freedom of travel given no respect by careless high speed jerks.

 

[LouNY]

Doesn't happen to just Amish on tractors.
Everyone that has to travel the roads with a tractor gets to see those idiots every day.

 

[K5lwq]

In Florida you can 'road' a tractor.

Raised TPH implements are permitted.

Trailers are not permitted behind tractors on the road.

I have towed many farm wagons, grain gravity box trailers and other things behind a JD 4020 on Florida roads. From what I read the rules have not changed. If the trailer is less than 10’ and does not block the view of the tractor lights then it is not required to have lights, turn signals or brake lights. Outside of that then the trailer needs lights. Of course SMV sign as well. Here is the laws.

Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes : Online Sunshine