I can't imagine the pain

[LarryD]

I can\'t imagine the pain

This is a story that made the Seattle news last night...I can't imagine how this uncle feels.

GRAHAM - A 4-year-old Pierce County boy was run over and killed by a bulldozer Friday in what a sheriff's officer described as a tragic accident.

The boy had been visiting his 31-year-old uncle in rural Pierce County.

Sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer says the uncle was using a bulldozer to grade a driveway in front of a private hangar near the Kapowsin Air Field and was giving the boy a ride.
He sent the boy into a nearby house at about 5:30 p.m. for a cup of hot chocolate and returned to grading. The child apparently returned a short time later but the man did not see him and the bulldozer rolled over the boy.

The name of the boy is not immediately available.

 

[Deerlope]

Re: I can\'t imagine the pain

That guy will be lucky at best if he ever gets back on a dozer. If the machine has 1 seat there is only supposed to be 1 person on it.Period.

 

[JimR]

Re: I can\'t imagine the pain

I know this is going to sound pretty harsh. But I don't call things like that an accident. The driver set this in motion and should have known that the kid would come charging back out to get back up with him. I call that stupidity. He should have had enough common sense to stop working until the kid came back out with the drink. Now because of his stupidity. Some little 4 year old is never going to experience life. What a shame. I hope this guy never forgets about what he has done.

 

[RonR]

Re: I can\'t imagine the pain

JimR,

I think you are correct that it is harsh. One lapse of judgement or moment of inattention can change a life. Personally, I have great compassion for this family and hope that they can survive the ordeal of living with this forever...............

I can do stupid things in a heartbeat and think how awful it could have been for a long time.

My heart aches for anyone who has to deal with something like this.

 

[Kub0ta]

Re: I can\'t imagine the pain

Accidents happen.

 

[Henro]

Re: I can\'t imagine the pain

Last year I met the neighbor's kids for the first time. I guess the little boy was expanding his uinverse...was six at that time I think. Now able to move a couple hundred yards from home on his own.

To make a long story short, I made it a point to tell him and his older sister (maybe 8) that tractors are dangerous and if I am working on mine, they should stay well back and not come onto the property until I see them.

I can't tell you how good it felt the first time I was down behind the pond working with the tractor, and I happend to look, and there they were standing at the property line waiting until I saw them.

Turned the tractor off and we tried to catch frogs in the pond for a bit.

I'm sure the uncle thought the kid was going in the house and not coming back out. Probably the biggest problem with giving the little one a ride was making the kid comfortable with the dozer and not afraid of it. At that age...what can you say. Heck, I don't think I realized I was mortal until I reached 50!

Very sad to say the least...

 

[fishman]

Re: I can\'t imagine the pain

Harsh, yes. But I have to agree with JimR that this was not really an accident, more like a lack of good judgement. I have a three year old and the tractor doesn't move unless his whereabouts are known and he is watched. It's much too easy for little ones to get into trouble even when you are giving them your undivided attention.

But I think most of the blame may lie on the parents. If the uncle did not have children, he may not have been aware of how unpredictable they can be. I for one would never let someone else watch my child while they operated heavy equipment.

 

[JTC]

Re: I can\'t imagine the pain

I would think that the adults in the house bear more responsibility then the bulldozer operator since the child should be under their control until another adult is able to keep tabs on what he is doing. In reality, I don't think there was enough information given to pass judgement on anyone. Sometimes kids just don't do what they are told to do.

I can't imagine the pain they must feel.

Jim

 

[thcri]

Re: I can\'t imagine the pain

I don't have any problems with the kid being on the bulldozer or a tractor. This topic has come up before. One of the members here and I can't remember who he was he made an agreement with his kids. They don't come close to the tractor until he waves them over. There is more to it but both parties had to be involved with some type of hand signals.

Your always going to find young kids who are entrigued with equipment and no matter how much you watch them they are going to come around. The system above teaches them the dangers related and makes them responsible.

murph

 

[tough451]

Re: I can\'t imagine the pain

I cant even count the number of laps I made on the tractor with my dad sitting on the tool box inbetween the seat and fender. You may not think its rite but it is a fact and time that I wouldnt trade for anything.
I too put more of the blame on the people in the house they should of walked the kid back to the dozer. All in all no amount of blame will change what has happened just remind us of what could happen .