GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - A 21-year-old man got the ride of a lifetime when his electric wheelchair became lodged in the grille of a semitrailer and was pushed down a highway for several miles at about 50 mph.
Ben Carpenter was unharmed but was taken to a hospital as a precaution. He had been secured to his wheelchair by a seat belt. Carpenter, who has muscular dystrophy, told a television station that he thought he might not make it through the ride.
"I was probably thinking that this is going to keep going and not stop anywhere, 50 or 60 miles somewhere," he told WOOD-TV of Grand Rapids.
Ben Carpenter's father, Donald, told The Associated Press that his son had started to cross at an intersection Wednesday afternoon in Paw Paw, about 140 miles west of Detroit. The light changed to green while his son was in front of a semi, which started moving.
The wheelchair's handles became lodged in the grille, the father said, and the wild ride started.
Motorists called 911 on their cell phones, and a pair of undercover police officers who happened to be nearby saw what was happening. They pulled the truck over and told the disbelieving driver, Donald Carpenter said.
The chair was undamaged except for losing most of the rubber on its wheels, he said.
"It's a very bad story that ended very well," he said. "We're just thrilled that he's still around."
The victim was unavailable for comment as a medical team was still removing the poop from his pants. However, the vehicle's drive made the simple statement of "Oops!"
ONE FOOT ON THE BREAK AND ONE ON THE GAS, HEY
WELL THERES TOO MUCH TRAFFIC I CANT PASS, NO
SO I TRIED MY BEST ILLEGAL MOVE
WELL BABY BLACK AND WHITE COME AND TOUCHED MY GROOVE AGAIN
GONNA WRITE ME UP A 125
POST MY FACE WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE
TAKE MY LICENSE ALL THAT JIVE
I CANT DRIVE 55. OH NO. UH!
SO I SIGNED MY NAME ON NUMBER 24, HEY
YEAH THE JUDGE SAID BOY JUST ONE MORE
WERE GONNA THROW YOUR ASS IN THE CITY JOINT
LOOKED ME IN THE EYE SAID YOU GET MY POINT
I SAID YEAH OH YEA
WRITE ME UP A 125
POST MY FACE WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE
TAKE MY LICENSE ALL THAT JIVE
I CANT DRIVE 55. OH YEAH!
I CANT DRIVE 55
I CANT DRIVE 55
I CANT DRIVE 55
I CANT DRIVE 55
UH!
WHEN I DRIVE THAT SLOW YOU KNOW ITS HARD TO STEER
AND I CANT GET MY CAR OUT OF SECOND GEAR
WHAT USED TO TAKE TWO HOURS NOW TAKES ALL DAY. HUH!
IT TOOK ME 16 HOURS TO GET TO L.A.
GONNA WRITE ME UP A 125
POST MY FACE WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE
TAKE MY LICENSE ALL THAT JIVE
I CANT DRIVE 55
I CANT DRIVE 55
NO HANDLEBARS HAN SHOT. FIRST! PERIOD. NO HANDLEBARS MORE COWBELL! NO HANDLEBARS GO FUCK YOURSELF™
I know it was on TV but I stil think it's total bullshit- I wasn't doubting the fact that it got reported, just the "fact" that it happened at all the way it was presented
Update from the news desk.
The 21-year-old man, whose name was not released, has made his first public statement since the incident. When asked how he is doing, the man said, "TIMMY!!!" Stay tuned. We will bring you more news as it happens.
You sir, are a racous buffoon. I sincerely hope that someday you have a similar affliction bestowed upon you and instead of getting caught in the grill of the semi, you are crushed underneath it's wheels. meanwhile, I am going to go have sex with a beautiful woman. You are an asshole.
