Drunk driver hits tractor.

Steave · Feb 1, 2016

Despite this gentlemans efforts things happen. Condolences to his family. This area is a small close knit community that I have drove through several times. There's no excuse for this kind of occurrence I'll call it because its hard to call it an accident.

Tractor driver killed in wreck, woman charged with homicide by vehicle - : Local

davesl708 · Feb 1, 2016

So sad. My condolences to his family.

mddorange · Feb 1, 2016

It is really bad news and because of such drivers it is very dangerous to take a tractor out onto any street.

Just last year, someone visiting a family up the road was intoxicated and flipped his pickup truck at the curve in front of our pasture with it coming to rest against a tree. His daughter had to be saved using the jaws-of-live to get her out. So yes, I really worry anytime I have to get out on the road.

devildog1 · Feb 1, 2016

So sad indeed! For whatever reason there are some areas of our country such as Texas where a judge let this rich boy loose after he killed a few in a drunk car crash, why on earth would he do that and I ask myself why would the state and or people allow that judge to still be a judge?
DevilDog

daugen · Feb 22, 2016

the part of this sad article that jumped out at me that hasn't been mentioned is the "ejected from his seat".
As a safety forum, we might consider if this would have ended differently if he had his seat belt on and a ROPS in action.
Maybe it was a really old tractor, don't know.
We can't control the crazies out there, all we can do is be as safe as possible.
Buckle up...though it might not have made a difference here.

Steave · Feb 22, 2016

Was wondering the same thing about the seat belt. If the tractor had all the safety equipment I would venture to say it most likely would have turned out different. All I know about the situation is what is in the write up. Not many folks around here wear their seat belts anyway. Most of the tractors used for smaller farms don't even have safety equipment, like mine. So it all boils down to what daugen said "We can't control the crazies out there, all we can do is be as safe as possible." THINK.

daugen · Feb 22, 2016

I live on very flat land in coastal NC though inland a bit and I admit to not putting on my seat belt when doing utility jobs around the property.
Seatbelts are to keep us within the ROPs but let's face it, a rollover is bad news and there are no airbags or whatever to cushion any contacts.
isn't going to be fun no matter what, but if one hangs on to the wheel for literally dear life, one should be able to walk out of it if no intrusions into the cab.
Something I sure hope I never experience.

I never thought about getting hit by a car or what it could do to me/my tractor. I have to run the local country roads a few times as I have road frontage on two roads and need to get to the rear of my property without running through my neighbor's soy beans. Off season it's fine, but now, ok, seatbelts on when I go out on the road.
Just like a car...and I added a magnetic led blinking light which I need to remember to turn on.

Thomas · Feb 22, 2016

**** shame

Hope justice hard and sends message.

Wyobuckaroo · Feb 22, 2016

Condolances for the family..

Driving under the influence, without a license, under suspension?, point to a possible history of substance abuse issues..
No insurance and such as that indicate an intent and total disregard for public safety all the rest of us are required to comply with..

It has always been my pet peeve that substance abusers seem to be able to "get by" with a history of abuse until some major incident like this happens to bring them to "justice".... But so many times, like this, someone has to die before that happens...

Even with the needless death of an innocent person, it is deplorable any state legislature doesn't have consequences in place for this kind of action that get applied to abusers.. Many/most states do have harsh regulations on books... Courts, lawyers, abuser community status seem to go a long way in not getting justice applied for those who seem hard to hold responsible for there actions... It is a shame...

My 2 cents..

LaurenLongHaul · Feb 22, 2016

What a terrible event, my heart goes out to the family. It really goes to show you how important it is to wear a seatbelt.

4570Man · Feb 22, 2016

IMO it is pretty dumb to drive farm machinery on a highway. I met a guy on a 55 mph road and he was going about 10 mph. To make matters worse it was raining and foggy that day. To make matters even worse he did not have any flashers. Had someone hit this dumb butt it would have likely been a different outcome since he was on a large farm tractor with a round bail on both ends.

grnspot110 · Feb 22, 2016

4570Man said:
IMO it is pretty dumb to drive farm machinery on a highway. I met a guy on a 55 mph road and he was going about 10 mph. To make matters worse it was raining and foggy that day. To make matters even worse he did not have any flashers. Had someone hit this dumb butt it would have likely been a different outcome since he was on a large farm tractor with a round bail on both ends.

And just how are they supposed to get from one farm to another???

4570Man · Feb 22, 2016

grnspot110 said:
And just how are they supposed to get from one farm to another???

A trailer??

grnspot110 · Feb 22, 2016

4570Man said:
A trailer??

Not at all practical in many farming situations! I grew up farming in the 1950's & 60's, worked in the safety business for 29 years after that. I'll agree, safety precautions too often aren't taken, but trailering equipment short distances simply isn't practical.

The real problem in the original post case is the drunk driver that was still on the road!

daugen · Feb 22, 2016

4570, in most farming areas there are tractors all over the roads. Even signs up around here to be careful of
moving farm machinery. Telling them to trailer their tractors is like telling the Amish to trailer the buggies.
Isn't going to happen.
And shouldn't have to.
Drivers should be careful
and share the road with combines as much
as with bicycle riders in some areas and motorcycles everywhere else.

1MOA · Feb 22, 2016

4570Man said:
IMO it is pretty dumb to drive farm machinery on a highway. I met a guy on a 55 mph road and he was going about 10 mph. To make matters worse it was raining and foggy that day. To make matters even worse he did not have any flashers. Had someone hit this dumb butt it would have likely been a different outcome since he was on a large farm tractor with a round bail on both ends.

Did you even read the article? He was on a back road 2 lane road far from a"highway". Matter of fact of you click on the link and look at the map it is 2 lane roads surrounded by farms. look at there Belleview and Pine mountain meet. there is no reason in the world i would not expect a tractor to be there.
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.025...m4!1sf5i2nkTBomyNeUF4-YRGSQ!2e0!7i3328!8i1664

Wagtail · Feb 23, 2016

First and foremost; my condolences & sympathy to the family of the tractor driver. I won't comment on the drunk driver as, too often, they'll receive a minor punishment for the crime and be back on the road in no time.

However. It is up to the tractor operator to keep his or herself as safe as possible. If your working rig doesn't have a ROPS (or equivalent) get one. If your rig doesn't have a seat belt, again... get one, have it installed and use it at all times (gets you in the habit). Attach one or two new and un-faded SMV triangles. Use the four-way flashers with the headlights. My 4105 came with all of these. The road at the bottom of my driveway is marked as a 100kph zone, as are ALL rural roads in Tasmania, with an accompanying sign that says "Drive To The Conditions".

Because there are rare occasions for me to drive my tractor off of my property, I went and bought an amber 'whoop-whoop' light and immediately installed it on my ROPS as it's no good sitting in the box, waiting for me to get around to it.

You have to look out for yourself and give yourself every reasonable chance of coming home safely.

Sorry for the rant.

2ndhalf · Feb 23, 2016

Impossible to keep yourself safe agains complete moron's.... don't drive drunk.. I like to drink as much as the next guy but don't DRIVE!

His tribute.

Mr. Jerry Eugene Robinson Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

daugen · Feb 23, 2016

the video tribute is truly moving, just another guy like us,with two beautiful girls.
But no more awful than losing a life in a car or truck accident.
We need to be very careful when out on the road, on hills, around pto's, under mowers, etc, etc