Updated: June 7, 2007 07:23 AM
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PAW PAW -- The Michigan State Police Paw Paw Post and Van Buren County Central Dispatch began receiving strange reports of a man in a wheel chair being pushed by a semi truck on Wednesday afternoon.
The wheel chair of a 21-year-old man became lodged in the grill of a semi truck as the vehicle pulled out of a gas station. The semi then began driving down Red Arrow Highway, with its new and unusual hood ornament still attached.
Police initially thought the report might have been a prank until they started receiving more reports of the situation.
Troopers responded to the Ralph Moyle Trucking Company, located on Red Arrow Highway, where it was reported the semi truck had pulled in -- wheel chair and occupant still attached.
Troopers and officers discovered the man in the wheel chair, unharmed.
An investigation revealed the semi truck, owned by RMI, had pulled out of a local gas station. While doing so the young man in the wheel chair pulled in front of the semi truck. His wheel chair became lodged by its handles in the front grill of the semi truck. The unwitting semi truck driver then proceeded to travel west on Red Arrow Highway at speeds of approximately 50 MPH.
The semi traveled for an estimated four miles unknowingly pushing the man in the wheel chair.
Once the semi truck had pulled into the Ralph Moyle lot, Troopers approached him and advised him of the man in the wheel chair. The driver did not believe them until he stepped out of the truck and saw the man still sitting in his wheel chair.
Police said the man was unharmed and unfazed by the incident. The young man said it was quite a ride.
One trooper on the scene said it would be possible to work another 90 years in law enforcement and never see an incident such as this one, but they are just glad no one was injured.
