Tragedy Strikes in Michigan

[Squeak n Itch]

Last week a 3 year old boy was killed in Tuscola, County Michigan. The youngster was leaning against the front glass of a combine when the glass shattered and the boy fell forward into the mechanism. This was a case of an accident that could not have been predicted. Our hearts and prayers go out to the family.

 

[kebo]

Wow, that's just horrible! I bet whomever was operating the machine (dad or maybe grandad?) will think about that everyday for the rest of their life.

Really though, it just points out once again that children and heavy equipment DO NOT mix!! Imho, they should not be allowed on or near any heavy equipment whether it's running or not.

 

[jml755]

Father was driving the combine. I'm sure the dad thought the kid was safe in the cab with him. Happened on Friday. Then on Saturday, I saw a guy on a riding mower with a toddler in his lap. What part of "not a good idea" don't people understand. Stuff happens REAL fast.

 

[doall]

hearts and prayers here too.

 

[Duffster]

What an example of an extreme fluke of an accicdent.

 

[GGB]

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family-especially to the father.

It is nearly imcomprehensible to think this sort of accident could happen. I could not have imagined that the combine windsheild could simply shatter.

I was running our JD combine just last week, and will be again as soon as the corn dries out enough to continue. It will be hard not to remember this when I get back in the cab. Accidents on the farm can occur even when you think you've done everything to be safe.

I don't have kids but still can't imagine how terrible the poor father must feel.....

GGB

 

[ray66v]

Very sad story.

I don't doubt the tragic ending. But, I don't understand how this could happen.

A three year old leaning on it, should not break that glass.

Windshields should be made out of laminated glass that does not allow the glass to fall out after it breaks.

If it was tempered glass, (perhaps someone replaced with the wrong type?), that will shatter, but it takes a lot to do it. If I gave a 3 year old a hammer, he could probably not break one. When taking a damaged one out, I have had to hit tempered windows multiple times with a big hammer, before they broke

Is it possible something broke the window from the outside, while he was leaning on it?

 

[kebo]

Do modern combines have safety glass installed? Not so much for the impact resistance part, but more for the general strength since it is stronger than non-safety glass. I'm guessing they don't, since it would probably be considered an unnecessary expense that would increase the cost of the combine.

 

[ray66v]

Do modern combines have safety glass installed?

When I had a windshield made for a cab I built, for my lawn tractor, the glass shop told me, if it is a windshield, it needs to be laminated safety glass.

Laminated glass is not as impact resistant as tempered glass. But, it is safer. Because: (a). It does not fall out, and (b). The plastic layer in the center, resists penetration.

 

[GGB]

My first thought was possibly an ear of corn flying up from the corn head, but that is very hard to imagine breaking the glass.

A more likely possibility is that a tool laying on the cab of the floor might have bounced up and hit the windshield from inside if the combine hit a ditch while going through the field.

Another possibility is hitting a ditch hard enough to flex the cab, breaking the windshield.

But nothing really makes any sense to me.....

GGB