By JAMES PRICHARD, Associated Press Writer Fri Jun 8, 5:57 AM ET
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - A 21-year-old man got the ride of a lifetime when his electric wheelchair became lodged in the grille of a semitrailer and was pushed down a highway for several miles at about 50 mph.
Ben Carpenter was unharmed but was taken to a hospital as a precaution. He had been secured to his wheelchair by a seat belt. Carpenter, who has muscular dystrophy, told a television station that he thought he might not make it through the ride.
"I was probably thinking that this is going to keep going and not stop anywhere, 50 or 60 miles somewhere," he told WOOD-TV of Grand Rapids.
Ben Carpenter's father, Donald, told The Associated Press that his son had started to cross at an intersection Wednesday afternoon in Paw Paw, about 140 miles west of Detroit. The light changed to green while his son was in front of a semi, which started moving.
The wheelchair's handles became lodged in the grille, the father said, and the wild ride started.
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Hope he kept his mouth shout, imagine getting a bug at fifty miles per hour
stocktrader2006
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Wonder if that ride burned his motor up?
glassman
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that dude is one of the luckiest people you'll ever come across..
Dr Pepper oughta get him on a commercial....
Lockman
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What condition was the chair in? Maybe he had a roll bar.
glassman
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what's that movie? jackazz? they couldn't come up with a stunt that good
Lockman
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quote:Originally posted by glassman: what's that movie? jackazz? they couldn't come up with a stunt that good
lol
Just saw a picture of the poor guy. His chair looks to be in good shape. I'd use this guy as a spokesman if I was them. Good thing he didn't hit a pot hole.