Neighbor Tractor Accident

[MHarryE]

My 91 year old neighbor was bringing a large round bale from his storage area to his cattle yard and due to frosted windows didn't see the delivery truck coming down the highway. Truck hit him in the right front wheel, broke the axle attachments and knocked the axle a couple feet over to the left plus flipped the axle over so the input was facing forward. Fortunately neither my neighbor nor the truck driver were injured. We've been having a cold blast for over a week, even for us in NE Minnesota. We haven't seen above zero F temps since the day before Christmas Eve and its been as cold as -42F so windows frost over quickly even if using block heaters continuously. The truck went under the loader so nothing damaged on the tractor other than the axle and steering lines, and that was also enough to cushion the impact for the truck too. Could have been a lot worse if the impact was at the loader or rear wheel.

 

[MossRoad]

Lucky he's not dead. Very lucky.

 

[oosik]

Scary situation. Frosted window was the neighbors excuse. Wonder what the truck driver had to say.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Sorry to see this. But, on the positive side,( I think?) it's great that a guy 91 years old can and is still feeding his cattle.

Great to hear that there was no bodily harm. :thumbsup:

 

[Kentuckyfarmer]

Every fedex, ups and all the rest fly in my drive like their on the interstate. Everyone I tell to slow it down when coming in my drive. I don't blame the owner at all. Was his property and he probably wasn't expecting anyone coming down the drive. And owner was turning on the drive from a field that means he already had the bail, loader out on the drive before the truck hit the front axle of the tractor. I'm sure the tractor wasn't going but a couple miles an hour and for the tractor to get that far out in the drive it sure seems like if the truck was going a decent speed he would have had plenty of time to stop.

 

[ovrszd]

I took it that the truck was on a public highway and the neighbor pulled out in front of him.

I am 66 and I see myself being more reckless. When I'm on public roads with the tractor I am super paranoid and look 2 or 3 times before taking action.

Glad the neighbor is okay. Glad his negligence didn't injure or kill someone.

 

[Threepoint]

I took it that the truck was on a public highway and the neighbor pulled out in front of him.

I am 66 and I see myself being more reckless. When I'm on public roads with the tractor I am super paranoid and look 2 or 3 times before taking action.

Glad the neighbor is okay. Glad his negligence didn't injure or kill someone.

I read the post the same way. Kentuckyfarmer, are we referring to the same accident?

 

[Kentuckyfarmer]

Guess I over looked the highway remark. Well then farmers fault. You get at least one take back a day don't you?

 

[ovrszd]

Some days I get them by the case.

 

[jerrybob]

A little duct tape.......that tractor will be fine......glad nobody was hurt.

 

[ovrszd]

We may not hear the final result in regards to the tractor. I think it has much more damage than just putting the front axle back under it. Looks like a really nice tractor......

In regards to the accident, upon further study, the truck hit him in the right front wheel. This indicates the truck coming toward the tractor from it's right side. Neighbor drove across the highway and into the path of the truck. Maybe truck driver tried to swerve right and miss him?? Probably hoping at the last second that the operator would see him and dodge.

Bad deal. Horrible timing. How many times have we averted an accident simply because the timing was better? :ashamed:

 

[MHarryE]

It was out on an asphalt highway. You can see bits of the semi in the third picture beyond the tractor. Semi was a Dorito's truck stocking up all the stores and filling stations with Doritos prior to the New Year's parties. Driver had finished deliveries up north and was heading south back towards the Iron Range when my neighbor pulled out in front. Fortunately the truck was driving well below the speed limit because nobody likes to end up in the ditch in this cold weather. It was about -22F at the time. Note the frost on this fawn's nose. I don't usually feed the critters that lay waste to my crops but even I feel for them in this real cold spell so they are getting some of my grain for an energy boost.

 

[poncho62]

I am a delivery driver (NAPA) and we do get rushed sometimes. There is that pressure since people want their crap ASAP. No excuses though, we all have to be more careful. I try and have that attitude that it get there when it gets there......There are times however when I screw up and try and make up time. I will try to remember this post when that happens next time.
Glad no one was hurt.

 

[ovrszd]

I agree poncho. That's the value I see in this thread also. Doesn't matter who was to blame. Just needs to reinforce to us that if we aren't paying attention, at the incorrect time, this is the result.

 

[MHarryE]

Accident was Friday afternoon. Dealer's truck (dealer is 150 miles away) was there at 11 the next morning. They used his other loader tractor to lift the front end and winch to pull the tractor onto the truck. So it is back at the dealer's and we'll know by the end of the week how badly it's damaged.

 

[goeduck]

That will buff right out, no problem.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Most accidents are an almost uncanny series of screw ups. If windows were frosted up, then it's quite clear, you don't proceed. But I understand. Sometimes when my truck windows are frosted in the yard, I proceed, assuming that no one has showed up.

Or making a left at an intersection with an opposing truck blocking your view. Sometimes the betting man in you, just wants to go for it.

 

[ovrszd]

Yep. And not taking sides. Wonder how many times the neighbor has entered the highway from that gateway in the last umpteen decades???

My elderly neighbors are both gone now. Both died in their 90s. The last 3-4 years I worried about Wayne constantly. He stored his big bales about 1/2 mile from the lot he wintered cattle in. Every day he hauled 2-4 bales on a paved hiway from that hay lot to the wintering lot. Always drove his JD4240 at half throttle, going maybe 14mph. All the locals knew to look out for him. The occasional OTR trucker that came thru was at the mercy of the untimely mistake that he might make.

Now I'm the old man in my area for 3 miles around me. I wonder if the young guys worry about me?

The Grandson of my elderly neighbor lives there now. In sight of my place. I'm sure he keeps an eye on me just like I did his Grandpa Wayne.

 

[Threepoint]

[snip] Note the frost on this fawn's nose. I don't usually feed the critters that lay waste to my crops but even I feel for them in this real cold spell so they are getting some of my grain for an energy boost. View attachment 534146

You're a good man. :thumbsup:

 

[Industrial Toys]

Just thinking about tractors on the road bugs me. You don't know what they are going to do. Are they going down the road ten mile, or turning? Right or Left? Do I try and pass or not?

It's not like a semi, with proper turn signals. And mirrors where you know they can see you. It's all so very dangerous. And some that think an old faded SMV sign is all they need because that is all the law in Ontario says you need in daylight.

Much larger equipment is on the road more and more, plus whereas many smaller units used to take to the shoulder so traffic could pass, few do that anymore for legality or safety reasons.