Scary day at the shop

[CJim7]

Yesterday at my buddy's offroad shop I witnessed something I dont ever really want to see again.
He was wiring a remote start on a rock buggy and when he went to test it the vehicle started as it should. The problem was the auto shifter was in reverse and it immediately started rolling backwards. He was standing outside of the rig when this happened and the driverside tire immediately trapped his foot and started crawling up his leg pulling him to the ground. It ran over his leg and hip.
I tried to jump through the passenger side to get to the shifter but couldnt reach it with it rolling...it was alrady off of him by them and came to rest against the rollup door idleing away and turning the tires against the concrete.
We got him to the emergency room and thankfully he had no broken bones....just some really bad road rash.

this rig had an aftermarket shifter, not sure what tranny...but it had no 'park' position...only reverse, neutral, drive.. Jeff had it in what he throught was the park position. The owner would have been well advised to make this fact clear when he brought it down.

My point is be carefull and dont take these things for granted when working on something. Even when you think something is safe, it can prove you wrong.

 

[alpha6]

Man sure glad he is ok and a good warning to everyone who works on their rigs to always think safety, safety, safety. He is more lucky than you think. A crushing injury to the hip can cut or by the pressure rupture the femoral artery. This happens and he is gonna bleed out internally real quick. Glad you both are around to talk about it.

 

[jeepboy45]

I'd be willing to bet that everyone who just read your post had flashbacks of stupid things we have done and gotten away with. From not using chock blocks, jackstands, etc etc etc etc..

Glad it all turned out ok in the end...

Good post.

Maybe someone who just read this will think of the image of your buddy being partially run over , the next time we work on our rig and are "mostly safe" ....

(not to say that your buddy wasnt being safe)

At least it had a GOOD ending.....

(that rock buggy should be forever named "christine" since it tried unsuccessfully to kill your friend)

 

[Kilo19]

WOW glad to hear two people left and two people came home.

 

[Old Dog]

Good to hear your buddy made it through without getting hurt to bad.

 

[Les]

Nice to hear your friend is ok. I once had a day at the shop like that, but instead of having a rock buggy chewing me up, substitute an angry ex-wife.

 

[CJim7]

Looking back on it, there are several things that should have been done differently.
First off, i dont ever start a vehicle without being inside of it just in case i have to have control of it. I wont even reach inside my daily driver to hit the ignition...you never know.

Second, the e-brake should have been engaged and wheels chocked.

3rd...double check, triple check, quadruple check all the above.

He was very lucky. He tends to work late at his shop by himself and this could have happened when he was alone.

Still completely baffled at the 'no park' issue of this tranny though.

 

[Old Dog]

Still completely baffled at the 'no park' issue of this tranny though.

I've run auto's for a long time in alot of different vehicles and have never heard of such a thing and have no idea why you would want it set up like that.

 

[IOPort51]

glad your buddy is ok.

can't quite see a reason for a remote start on a rock buggy. Doubly so with the lack of neutral, makes no sense to me.

 

[CJim7]

glad your buddy is ok.

can't quite see a reason for a remote start on a rock buggy. Doubly so with the lack of neutral, makes no sense to me.

It has an aftermarket racing style steering shaft with detachable wheel...no wiring.
It was 'park' that was missing on this set up...i cant figure it out either. Basically reverse was all the way forward, then neutral one click back, then the forward gearing after that.