Guess what happened to me today...

[GingerMagic]

Well, first day at my new place of work ( I transferred to a branch nearer my house ) and this happens.....

http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/1 ... der_lorry/

The guy dived under the lorry - luckily the drivers quick reactions prevented him from being killed - his head was touching the front wheels when we skidded to a halt, although he was pushed down the road about 30ft - made quite a mess. His arm was under the front wheel when we skidded so the skidmark of flesh was about 12 foot long, tore his arm to shreds.

The picture below I took of the fire engine tied to back of our lorry, to prevent it from rolling forwards over him even more.


We have an independent witness who was walking towards us and said she saw a man in the bushes acting odd, peeking out at the traffic and then back behind the bush again. Then he saw us coming and dived under the lorry ( I saw his eyes looking at where he was going to land when he was in mid-air ) and he was trapped and dragged. The witness was extremely shaken, but thankfully she came forwards to say what happened, as us lorry drivers are always the first to get blamed.

The lorry has been taken away for testing, tacho checks, driver checks, VOSA involved etc etc.

This chap should have thought about the effect his decision would have on other people - regardless of his reasons for what he did. I was only the passenger so not too shaken but the driver was a bit shook up, and the witness ( maybe her kids too ) will have bad dreams for a while...

[steve_earwig]

Oh f*ck! I was expecting some part of your car had fallen off by the title. That's just awful, I'm not surprised you're all shaken up, I would be too, especially if I was the driver, nightmares for years probably.

[PeterN]

Terrible thing to happen, hope it doesn't affect you to much. Talking about it helps so perhaps when you have recounted it to all those asking it will have dulled a bit.

Peter

[Welly]

The man was thought to be crossing the road

Horrible thing to happen I don't think I'd dare look underneath

An ex-neighbour years ago was a lorry driver and had a car pull out on him from a T-Junction; killed the driver.....it wouldn't be right to say he shrugged it off but he was just kinda talking about it being part of what comes with the job. Tough dudes these lorry folk.

[Doggy]

That must've shaken you up. Tragic all round.
I hope you and the driver aren't seriously affected by this.

[nutski]

Wow

Can't imagine what it's like to witness something like that, hope you and your colleague are ok.

We have front facing camera in every vehicle at work, luckily so far i've only had to deal with footage of stupid driving as i wouldn't like to have to watch anything like that.......

[GingerMagic]

We have front and side cameras too, but they don't work now the truck has reached the ripe old age of 2 months.....

I am okay - the driver has had a couple of days of work to sort himself out a bit - I'm a ginge so years of abuse gives you a good backbone... I guess if we hit someone who was pushed or innocently crossing the road then I would feel a whole lot different. I'm still angry with the chap who jumped out, this mess was caused by his choice, not by my own actions. I was asked if I wanted to know if his condition has improved, to which I said ' no, I'm not bothered..'

I managed to pick the lorry back up from the Police inspection team earlier, very pleased with the quick turn-around but I guess its because the lorry is new.

I drove past the scene today, from the other direction and I could clearly see the bush he was behind was a great hiding place, and that all the claret has been cleaned from the road.

No incidents today though, rather dull in fact....

[scotty73]

I'm a ginge so years of abuse gives you a good backbone...

Few months of rehab in the home next door to me And he'll soon be back to his old tricks.

[Welly]

Ginge, our two Cats have just been killed outside the house by a cement mixer, would you mind sitting with the children whilst I dig the hole in the Garden? they're quite upset though, the kids favourite Cat got stuck to the rear tyre and the driver didn't notice until he got to the end of the road.

[GingerMagic]

Of course, is the hole for the cats or for the kids.....?

[Doggy]

Ginge, our two Cats have just been killed outside the house by a cement mixer, would you mind sitting with the children whilst I dig the hole in the Garden? they're quite upset though, the kids favourite Cat got stuck to the rear tyre and the driver didn't notice until he got to the end of the road.

Couldn't you just dip them in the cement and have yourself instant life-size sculptures as memorials?

(I was meaning the 'Cats', but I guess it's up to you).

[Welly]

You're both wicked I tell ya

[DaiRees]

I know a couple of people who are train drivers and they consider this kind of thing an occupational hazard, lots of people jump under trains apparently . It's gotta mess you up pretty bad though! I also know a bloke who lost control of his truck on ice trying to avoid a car that had spun on said ice and was stranded accross the road. He had no chance of avoiding the car and side-swiped it, the car driver was trapped under the car and lost both her legs in the accident, horrible!