Trucker Who Pushed Wheelchair Not Charged

The Indy Channel ^ | 06/16/07

[Abathar]

PAW PAW, Mich. -- A truck driver whose rig snagged a man in his wheelchair and unknowingly pushed him at speeds up to 50 mph for miles will not face any criminal charges, authorities said.

Van Buren County prosecutor Juris Kaps said investigators determined the semi accidentally hit the wheelchair, the Kalamazoo Gazette reported Tuesday.

Ben Carpenter, 21, of was attempting to pass in front of the truck June. 6 when the light at an intersection turned green and the 52-year-old driver, who was not identified, started to move.

The wheelchair turned forward and its handles got lodged in the grille in Paw Paw, about 140 miles west of Detroit. The rig continued picking up speed and pushing the wheelchair, with Carpenter strapped in it, down the highway until pulling into the parking lot of a trucking company.

Police said the wheelchair was pushed about four miles, but Donald Carpenter, the man's father, said the actual distance was about half that.

Ben Carpenter, who lives near Kalamazoo and has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, was not injured.

[Roccus]

The article linked in post #12 says different.

Now, if your version is the right one, I still have questions. I’m not familiar with how crossing lights work in Paw Paw, but even in the little town I now reside near (less than 8,000), they have the flashing red hand that means “Don’t Walk”. The vehicles may still have a green light, but the flashing hand means you won’t have time to get across.

[Roccus]

“A lot of handicapped feel like they have a ‘gold card’ to do whatever they want.”

Seniors (and I’m one) also.

[longtermmemmory]

I like how the police exagerate the distance in their report.

(nooooo the police never manipulate evidence or testimony.......[/s])

[Mr. Lucky]

Dentists are the people who really irk me.

[DanielLongo]

Xtreme Wheelchairing! That must have been wild.

[metmom]

According to the article, he was in the intersection when the light turned green. A lot of handicapped feel like they have a 'gold card' to do whatever they want.

What constantly amazes me is the number of people I see standing at a cross walk waiting to cross when they have the green light, just as if they were driving. The light changes, turns red for them and green for the traffic to pass in front of them and THEN they step out into the crosswalk to cross, right in front of oncoming traffic, which has the right of way. Then they stop in the middle of the intersection and nobody knows who's going first and they tie traffic up something awful.

I have yet to figure out where these people ever learned to cross the street.

[Abathar]

Considering his disability and his age it was probably the biggest thrill of his life. I bet he never felt an adrenaline rush like that before...

[philetus]

Had to go look that one up.

And I’m not that young.”

You couldn’t trade the rest of the ticket book for an eticket.

[kidd]

I smell material for a new episode!

[Roccus]

72 and B’way in Manhattan. Pedestrians always crowding the southbound traffic lanes (against the light) to cross to the subway. Light at 71 and B’way was always red. More than a few pedestrians banged their faces into the body of my truck when they thought they had me timed, but I slowed for the red light a bit faster than they figured.
Good sport to end my day. ;)

[svcw]

As sad as this might be, I can’t help but laugh.

[Red_Devil 232]

The version I provided is from the boys own words. He and his parents were intervied on FNC. The police say the ride was 4 miles, the father says it was more like two miles. I tend to belive the father on this point.

Those motorized wheelchairs are pretty darn slow. Not every intersection with a trafic light has the warning signs.

[Half Vast Conspiracy]

I still have a few of those laying around in my dresser drawer, thanks for making me feel so old.....

If so, I bet they'd bring a price on E-bay. The E tickets always got used...

[muawiyah]

He probably did think he had a right to cross at an intersection ~ however, wheelchairs are notoriously slow.

In the future the locals should put up a sign "Watch For Wheelchair Pedestrians" ~ just like is done for "Blind Pedestrians".

[HIDEK6]

Since the driver was not charged with any wrongdoing, the cynic in me thinks that young Mr. Carpenter figured he had a “right” to pass in front of the truck. (or any other vehicle)

We have a winner!

The problem I notice with all these people with the handicapped stickers is that they think the sticker gives them special rights to do whatever the hell it is that they want to do.

All the ADA did was to create another protected class at the expense of the non-special White Male-American population.

[aberaussie]

I assumed only the old timers would get the connection.

heh heh

Well, I'm not 50 yet, but when I moved to Central Florida about 29 years ago, they still had the different levels for the rides. That changed not too long after, though.

[muawiyah]

Right, a handicapped guy crossing an intersection on the green light ~ definitely special treatment ~ (are you nuts)?