2 horses die, wagon destroyed in wreck with cross-country traveler

The Commercial Dispatch ^ | 2/10/2009 | Neal Wagner

[stickandrudder]

A New Hampshire man, who told a Dispatch reporter last week he was on a “journey of a lifetime” that brought him through nine states, dozens of towns and more than 1,700 miles, was in a wreck on Highway 45 today that demolished his horse-drawn recreational vehicle and killed two of his four horses.

The wreck happened on Highway 45 South near Shuqualak on the Kemper-Noxubee county line. Bob Skelding, 49, was driving his team of horses on a stretch of roadway that had little or no shoulder. Two 18-wheelers traveling side-by-side crested a hill, and one of the trucks hit the RV from behind.

Skelding was in critical condition in a Meridian hospital. The two surviving horses were being cared for by a nearby veterinarian.

Since August, Skelding had been traveling along the highways and backroads of rural America in the horse-drawn RV. The 7,700-pound RV, built by Skelding, housed a bed, a bathroom, a shower, a kitchen and other “things you would find in any home.”

Skelding passed through the Columbus area on Friday and Saturday.

Before the accident, Skelding maintained an online blog and posted details of his journey nearly every day at www.wagonteamster.com.

Neal Wagner is a Staff Reporter for The Commercial Dispatch.

[stickandrudder]

What a shame! Used to drive a team of Belgians (now in Greener Pastures), I miss my team.

[max americana]

It’s like going back in time and reading the news.

[valkyry1]

It was an accident waiting to happen

[SWAMPSNIPER]

This world is moving too damn fast!

[GGpaX4DumpedTea]

“Two 18-wheelers traveling side-by-side crested a hill, and one of the trucks hit the RV from behind.”

What were two 18-wheelers doing side-by-side cresting a hill? A no-pass zone?

[hinckley buzzard]

It’s like going back in time and reading the news.

That's a big Ten-Four good buddy. Too bad the time you went back to was arguably the worst in American history. Catch you on the flipflop.

[autumnraine]

It was probably a four lane highway, two tractor trailers going in the same direction. However, they aren’t supposed to pass blind or get in the left lane at all unless it is TO pass. And you certainly don’t pass on a blind hill.

[autumnraine]

“It’s like going back in time and reading the news.”

Yes, but is it 1875 with the horses or 1975 with the tractor trailers?

[Daffynition]

Sad.

Bob Skelding Web site

[CindyDawg]

How sad. It was his “do over” too. I had thought about doing some long distance biking but after almost getting run over by someone that decided to use the shoulder as an additional lane, I gave it up.

[earlJam]

Very sad. My horse and I do a lot of road riding. Some weekends we do 30 miles.

I have a well trained horse (who came off the racetrack years ago). And it has taken a few years for the horse to grow accostomed to cars, trucks and tractors passing by. (Bicycles used to be the worst!)

Although today she is bomb proof, there are still some situations we get into that could turn dangerous very quickly.

I cannot imagine trying to mentally plan ahead for potential dangers for 4 horses.

[brytlea]

Oh my how sad. Thank you for the link. My prayers for him.

[Arizona Carolyn]

http://www2.ljworld.com/weblogs/dakotah-drives/2009/feb/12/two-worlds-collide/ Bob Skelding - Two Worlds Collide

www.wagonteamster.com

Wagon teamster, Ron Dakotah, once told me, after I asked him about the perils of traveling by horse-drawn wagon on modern roads, “…I don’t have time to worry about what is coming from behind me, I’ve got my hands full looking at what is ahead of me…”

When I told Dakotah of the collision where a semi-truck hit the rear of Bob Skelding’s wagon in Mississippi, he wept. “…I told you these people drive too fast and don’t pay attention to what they’re doing. What a sad end to those fine horses; it just makes me cry. We (those on the road) can’t worry about what might happen; otherwise, we’d just have to sit on a porch somewhere and not go out.”

He went on to say, “I don’t know how many times this could have happened to me over the last twenty-six years; and I don’t think about it. When I started this journey it wasn’t a big spiritual thing, it just evolved into that. I have learned to ‘live’ my faith, not talk about it. So many people just ‘talk’ about their faith, but don’t ever step out in it. If you have faith, you have to show it. And everyday I hitch my team up is an act of faith”

When I spoke to Bob Skelding two weeks ago, he had just crossed into Mississippi and was deciding on which route to continue; either further south, or east to the coastline.

Bob Skelding was enjoying the celebrity that comes with driving a team of horses at four miles an hour, but didn’t seem the kind of person who sought celebrity and had the grace to accept those who came alongside him.

Bob and Dakotah also shared a common beginning to the “Journey of a lifetime”. Both men had just come out of an unsuccessful relationship and wanted to think things through or get a “do-over” as Bob once said.

Gene Bonner, an over-the-road trucker and former Deputy Sheriff, was driving his truck northbound on U.S. 45 between Meridian and Columbus Mississippi around 11:30AM on the morning of February 10th.

It was a partly cloudy day with good visibility. Gene was one of three trucks on the road with two trucks from the T.K. Stanley Company directly behind him. Gene stated, “I saw Bob’s wagon up ahead, so I signaled-left to pass him. The truck behind me did the same, but as I watched in my rear-view mirror, I saw what looked like an atom-bomb go off when he (the third truck) hit Bob’s wagon. It was a sight”

Image at link

Gene pulled to the side of the road as quickly as he could and approached a group of people who had gathered alongside the road. “I saw Bob lying in the ditch, and I asked if he was still alive and they said ‘he’s dead’. I asked if anybody had gone over to him to see, but no one had, so I went over to see for myself. I felt for a carotid pulse and he had one, so I stayed with him.

Gene went on to say; “…just about the time I felt for a pulse, Bob woke up and asked ‘what happened’, so I told him. The first thing he asked was how was his horses and about his dog, Clementine”

Gene then brought his dog over to Bob so the two of them could be together. Gene said, “The dog was sitting all by itself in the middle of the debris just shaking, so I took him over to Bob until the EMT’s arrived. Then I took the dog to my wife so our Vet could take a look at him. The Vet said she was in pretty good shape for a sixteen year-old dog, all things considering.”

Gene told me that, aside from Bob being unconscious, his only other visible wounds were some abrasions and cuts that would need some stitches. “…it was pretty miraculous that Bob didn’t have more or worse injuries”

Bob is recovering from the injuries he sustained from the accident last Tuesday; the extent to which has not been released. I spoke to Sgt. Cain, of the Mississippi Highway Patrol, this morning and he reported that Bob was doing much better and was expected to recover fully.

Bob’s sister, Cathy Fagan, is at his side today. She is, at this writing, with a member of the Mississippi Highway Patrol visiting the accident site.

Image Ron Dakotah

Thankfully, it appears Bob’s journey will continue; however, in what form or destination is unknown. As life is lived one day at a time, and with our eyes fixed firmly to the road ahead, what was once our physical journey, is transformed into our spiritual journey if we answer the call.

Drive on, Mr. Bob Skelding.

According to his mother and sisters he is in very bad shape, many broken bones and internal injuries.

[mefistofelerevised]

stupid freaking crack freak truckers

[stainlessbanner]

Bob sounds like my kind of guy. I hope he has a full recovery and wish him well on future journeys

[Yosemitest]

Highway 45 is a 4 lane highway.
He must have been on Highway 145.

Here's some more information y'all might use.

The Macon Beacon, a local newspaper, has established a fund at the Macon Mississippi Branch of Citizens National Bank for Bob and the surviving horses.
The Bob Skelding Wagonteamster Benefit Fund
Citizens National Bank
P.O. Box 426
Macon, MS 39341
Tel. 662-726-5861

Donations can go directly to that bank or any other Citizens National Bank in Mississippi. The website to view branch locations is www.yourcnb.com or call 1-866-333-4CNB (4262) . If donating by check, please make it payable to "The Bob Skelding Wagonteamster Benefit Fund". Thank You.

There were no ''two trucks running side by side''.
I saw the accident occur. I drive a gasoline tanker for a company based in Columbus, MS.

At approximately 11:30 cst this morning, I was southbound on US 45, 6.7 miles N. of Scooba, MS, when I came upon Bob. I recognized his rig immediately as I''d seen it this past weekend North of Columbus.
I changed lanes left to pass the vehicle. As I checked the right mirror, I observed a T.K. Stanley vehicle changing lanes left to pass Bob also.
There was a second T.K. Stanley vehicle following close behind the first.
This second vehicle did not change lanes. There occured the impact which blocked the highway for approximately an hour and a half.
Two of the beautiful horses were dead at the scene.
I cared for Bob until the arrival of emergency medical services.
Bob asked about the condition of his horses and of Clementine.
I found Clementine and brought her to him until he was being prepared for transport from the scene to Meridian.
There was no one at the scene who appeared to be willing to take custody of Clementine.
So, I sent my information with Bob to tell him when he recovers where Clementine is.
I transported Clementine to Columbus and gave her to my wife who promptly took her to the vet.
As of this writing, Clementine is staying at the vet''s overnight for observation.
The vet did say that for a dog of her advanced years (a woman never discusses her age) she is doing remarkably well given what she''s just been through. She was ambulatory and her kidney/bladder funtions appear normal.
If things progress as well in the morning, she''ll get a bath and much T.L.C. until she can be reunited with Bob.

Bashing anyone is inappropriate and uncalled for--sometimes there simply isn''t anyone to blame. Accidents do just happen, sad as they are. Let's all pray for Bob''s recovery, and may he, Doc, Joyce, and Clementine be reunited soon. DeeDee and Dollie will wait for them all at the Rainbow Bridge, restored to their glory and secure in the knowledge of how much Bob loved them. All the best to you, Bob.
Well wishers can e-mail bob@wagonteamster.com and to Daughter Lisa.

Comments are welcome to Bob at The Commercial Dispatch, at the bottom of the page.

Okay Freepers, you know what to do.

[Obamageddon]

"Montana Horse drawn recreational vehicle"