Halloween

[Jeff Smith]

I have always NOT cared for Halloween; I have always thought that it brings out the worst in people as clearly shown in many people’s costumes, the way that they decorate their residences and the list of accidents that appears in the papers and on the news the following day.

I prefer to have a positive attitude and impact people’s lives in a positive way and not impact people’s lives in a negative way. Well, ours was impacted this past Halloween night in a negative way when a nineteen year old male left a party just after midnight down the street and lost control of his vehicle and totaled my truck that was parked in the driveway. The streets are posted at 30 mph and with skid marks that exceed 140’ it is clear that he was not following the posted speed limit to say the least............................

Life is a series of choices among other things, and this person made a series of bad choices that night that will most likely haunt him for many years to come; they will also affect the financial future of my family for many years to come since I now have to replace a truck that I hoped to get 10-15 years use from since cars last many years in Florida.


I guess that I have another reason now to not like Halloween………………………..…..and someday I can explain to my children why they will have to pay for college since daddy had to buy another used truck to replace the one that was perfectly fine until someone made a bad............I mean STUPID choice.........................I will also make it even more CLEAR to them now about how their actions will not only affect their lives, but many other folks lives so they need to make wise choices and not selfish decisions..................................

Jeff

[Jeff Smith]

I will also take the opportunity to explain to them about vehicle safety, safe driving, physics, and any other item that I can think of at the time while we continue to clean up the mess of this person's bad choices...........................

Jeff

[Tanner Remillard]

Really sorry to see your loss, but unfortunately things like this happen every day. I do agree that Halloween brings out a lot of idiots, but so does superbowl Sunday, labor day, memorial day and every other day. Its a fun night for responsible people as myself and my family and friends, as we had a very good, SAFE time last saturday. Its people's stupid decisions that cause the trouble.

[HalfKeck]

sorry about the loss of your truck. That would suck. Thankfully none of your family members were standing outside when the young man lost control, or things would have been a lot worse.

[ronm]

Sorry about your truck too, but it would suck to be this guy-hired man got drunk, "borrowed" tractor to pull some girls out of the ditch....probably about $60,000 down the drain....linked from another site.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44244764@N06/show/

[Eric M.]

Ron,

DAMN! That takes some speed to do. Not only did he shear off one rear axle, but he managed to then break the front axle mounting AND bend the rim.

Try explaining that one to the boss.

[Marc P]

Unfortunately we are always going to be surrounded by morons. The day of the year, holiday or not, doesn't always make a difference. Stupidity is stupidity and morons don't wait for special days.

Then we have some "people" defending these "persons who are just not understood, mama beat me, I didn't get a Vette for graduation, I chose to drink and/or do drugs, but I got rights!"

The victims rarely see their own rights, because protection is given to the guilty. Then someone else says "It could be worse".

Jeff, sorry about the truck and your family hardships to come. Maybe someday there will actually be justice in the U.S.

[jht1057]

Sorry about to hear about your truck as well, stupidity is never painful to the people that do stupid things.

I would hope that there would be some kind of insurance involved to help you with the financial loss of the truck and property damage.

I have seen more devastating things happen that were troublesome in the weeks and months after words, but to say that something like this is going to mess up college and lives for years?

My children and I lost our house and belongings to fire the day after x-mas, over 500K in loss. Though I think x-mas is taken totally out of context anymore, I don't denounce it due to my misfortune. The aftermath of the fire only lasted for eight months and though there are reminders, our lives continue on unhindered.

Jim

[Beth V]

Originally Posted by ronm

Sorry about your truck too, but it would suck to be this guy-hired man got drunk, "borrowed" tractor to pull some girls out of the ditch....probably about $60,000 down the drain....linked from another site.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44244764@N06/show/

Ron,

What is the rest of the story? Good heavens, I would NOT want to call my Dad (or employer) and say, Um, I have a problem.....

How was he hooked that he broke that axle?????

Jeff,

Use this unfortunate experience to improve the economy and purchase another vehicle. Too bad the "Cash for Clunkers" is over....I bet your truck "clunks" now

Have you checked into scholarships for your children's education? My nephews received great scholarships to University of Michigan and other colleges.

Best of Luck
Beth

[Eric M.]

Beth, I think the outer wheels of the tractor hit the first tree, breaking the axle off, then it crashed into the second tree.

[Beth V]

Eric,

...at least it doesn't LOOK like he hurt the other tree too much...I see the splinters in the rim now that I enlarge it.

I'd say the owner will be helping the economy by purchasing another tractor.....

GADS

Beth

[bocephus_k6]

Like the old saying goes.....ya make something idiot proof....they just make a better idiot.!!!




Brian

[Farquhar]

We had a guy here at Bristol that brought a loaded .40 pistol as part of his costume to a halloween party. The girl that lived there told him to unload it-- he took the clip out, but didn't jack the one in the chamber out. Another guy was looking at the gun, & shot & killed himself.
Tragedy caused by stupidity.

[Kevin Pate]

I went to a party on Halloween night and some kid got severely trashed to the point he didn't remember ANYTHING he done that night. After some friends reminded of what he did (punching himself in the face, wanting to fight everyone, punching the side of the house, ripping his shirt off) he was embarrased to say the least. Some people are just plan retarded and get worse when beer is involved......

He thought he had gotten into a fight when he did get in a fight......with himself...


Dumbass....

[OTTO-Sawyer]

Be Glad Insurance covers stupidity, neglegence, careless mistakes, etc.,...

I learned the hard way that "Accident" Insurance DOESN'T cover True Accidents when a couple girls lost their brakes and blew through a stop light in front of me. I got my green light and was already accelerating through the intersection when they laid on the horn when they crossed in front of me. My big truck basically totalled their older midsized car, so they definitely got the worst end of it. But even though they caused the "accident" and got a couple tickets out of it, since it was sudden brake failure and they had no control of the situation, they weren't liable for the accident and their insurance company wasn't liable to pay to fix the front of my truck . If they were drunk or putting on make up, or changing radio stations, talking on the phone, etc., they would have been liable, but since it was a "TRUE ACCIDENT" their company didn't have to pay and I had to turn my truck in to my own insurance, pay My Deductible, and have My Rates go up as a result of filing a claim !

I assume you and hopefully the idiot that smashed your truck had insurance. Even if you have liability only yours, some (most?) policies have the uninsured/underinsured clause in them that should help some towards yours if the other guy wasn't insured ? If he did have insurance, then it shouldn't affect your kids college fund at all, And they still Learned a Valuable Lesson first hand about drinking and driving, Without getting hurt. Be Glad of That !

[Alan Rudd]

Jeff,

Sorry to hear of your missfortune. I think this young fellow should be held responsible for his actions, also if this is alcohol related the source of the alcohol should be held accountable.

I hope insurance from some angle will cover your loss. His, yours, or even your home owners insurance might cover it. I know one time my home owners insurance covered damage to a travel trailer I had, just because it was sitting in my yard.

The idea of just go buy another truck doesen't always work for all of us. This is a big ticket item to me, and I am sure it is to you also. Even if it is a "clunker" now, it wasn't at this time last week.

Hang on to the college fund for now, and keep in mind that if you need to haul anything that won't fit in Momma's car,(like a half scale Case), give me a call, the Silver Hornet and I can help you anytime.

Have 1Ton, will travel
Alan

[Hit and Miss kid]

Originally Posted by Farquhar

We had a guy here at Bristol that brought a loaded .40 pistol as part of his costume to a halloween party. The girl that lived there told him to unload it-- he took the clip out, but didn't jack the one in the chamber out. Another guy was looking at the gun, & shot & killed himself.
Tragedy caused by stupidity.

Yea, I heard of that one David I swear some people dont think with their old noggins anymore, seems like common sence is hard to come by anymore. The guy that hit your truck should come and apologize for his actions in person and take it like a man.... My dad would beat my butt from here to Farquhars house and back if I got drunk or flew in my car like that !!! I probably couldnt sit for a week or 3 (Not to mention David and Unky here, they would lay in to me as well) BUT, I know better than to do stuff like that, I know what farq and dad and unky craig would do some "good ol' ass whoppin" ()---that sums that up purdy dang well !!! But anywho, stupidity will always be around, no matter where you go... At least the truck can be replaced, it could have been wayyyyy worse !

[ronm]

Originally Posted by Eric M.

Beth, I think the outer wheels of the tractor hit the first tree, breaking the axle off, then it crashed into the second tree.

Eric's right, Beth, that's how it happened. Straddled the first tree between the duals, snapped the axle, made it to the second tree & that's as far as he went...this was in Nebraska, somebody said they were red ash trees-whatever they are, they're pretty tough....I've seen JD axles take a lot of abuse, never saw one snapped off by a tree-he had to be going like a bat out of you-know-where... fueled by Bud light....it was said also that he's 20 yr. old,already had 2 or 3 DUI's. Notice the bird house on the second tree? whoever nailed that up did a pretty good job.

[OTTO-Sawyer]

Boy I heard those "Nebraska Tractor Tests" were pretty thorough, but I didn't know they included a 'tree knockdown' test....

[Beth V]

Originally Posted by ronm

Eric's right, Beth, that's how it happened. Straddled the first tree between the duals, snapped the axle, made it to the second tree & that's as far as he went...this was in Nebraska, somebody said they were red ash trees-whatever they are, they're pretty tough....I've seen JD axles take a lot of abuse, never saw one snapped off by a tree-he had to be going like a bat out of you-know-where... fueled by Bud light....it was said also that he's 20 yr. old,already had 2 or 3 DUI's. Notice the bird house on the second tree? whoever nailed that up did a pretty good job.

Ron,

Our farm gang here debated the issue in detail. Impressed at the damage to the poor tractor (not in a positive manner), aghast at the stupidity! My first reaction was to see if they were Firestone tires (my brother is an engineer for them) to see if he was going to tell me about the traction that they develop......it doesn't even look like they blew a tire!

People will never cease to amaze me...

Beth