This week’s installment of “Sunday Travel Funnies” was inspired by an unexpected trip that a young man took when his electric wheelchair got lodged in the grille of a semi. I saw the story broadcast on TV while at a graduation party attended by more than three-dozen people. Reaction to incident was mixed. While some found it hilarious, others were less than amused. Read what transpired and judge for yourself.
Some may call what happened to 21-year-old Ben Carpenter “exciting.” He calls it “pretty scary.” I’ll take his word for it.
According to police reports, a few days ago Carpenter got the ride of his life thanks in part to a very strange turn of events. The Michigan man had just entered an intersection where a semi truck had stopped for a red light. The light turned green just as his wheelchair rolled in front of the semi. According to witnesses, the massive truck accelerated and bumped the side of Carpenter’s wheelchair. The chair was then turned forward and its handles became lodged in the grille.
That’s when Carpenter’s wild ride began. Police say the young wheelchair-bound man was accidentally pushed down a highway for several miles at speeds topping 50 m.p.h. According to the truck driver, Carpenter was situated so low on the grille that he couldn’t see him and kept driving.
Carpenter told local news reporters that he seriously considered the possibility that he might not make it before the truck came to a complete halt.
“It was pretty scary,” Carpenter told reporters.
The scary sight caught the attention of dozens of motorists who couldn’t believe their eyes. Many of them called 911 on their cell phones. As luck would have it a pair of undercover police officers that happened to be driving in the opposite direction of the semi with an attached Carpenter did a quick U-turn and told the truck driver to pull over.
Some say it is a miracle carpenter escaped injury.
“He’s fine,” Carpenter father told reporters. “Not a scratch. He was basically just scared.”
Carpenter, who has muscular dystrophy, says the incident is one he will never forget. As for his wheelchair, according to Carpenter’s father, being pushed down the road by the truck burned most of the rubber off the tires of the wheelchair, but otherwise didn’t damage it. He said the tires were replaced within a few hours, in time for his son to use the wheelchair this weekend at a muscular dystrophy camp.
“It’s a very bad story that ended very well,” Carpenter’s father said. “We’re just thrilled that he’s still around.”
Now if that travel tale doesn’t make you more vigilant when crossing the street or driving through an intersection I don’t know what will.
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