Man in Wheelchair Snagged by Semitrailer and Dragged 4 Miles, Unharmed

A Paw Paw, Michigan man recently went for the ride of his life - actually it almost cost him his life. 21-year-old Benjamin Carpenter was attempting to cross a highway when his wheelchair was snagged by a passing semitrailer. The truck's driver did not see Carpenter attempting to cross the intersection and rolled forward when the light turned green, snagging the man's wheelchair with the front grille of the truck. The truck's driver then began a four mile trek up Red Arrow Highway taking Carpenter and his wheelchair along for the ride.

Witnesses reported the scene to police dispatchers who initially questioned the validity of the report. When other travelers reported the incident police realized the situation was much more serious than the usual prank call. The truck had gained speed in the open road and was traveling around 50mph when police caught up with the big rig. Police said the truck's driver had no idea why he was being pulled over and was in a state of shock when the officer indicated he had hit a pedestrian in a wheel chair.

As unbelievable as this story is, the most incredible part of the story is that Carpenter was uninjured in his four-mile ride of terror. Police reported the man was "remarkably calm," considering the ordeal he had just endured. In fact, he reported to responding officers that he was fine and had simply "just went for a little ride." It is unclear whether or not the semi's driver will face charges for the incident. Police responding to the call categorized the incident as a "pedestrian accident" and obviously were expecting a scene of much more carnage. Fortunately for Carpenter, that wasn't the case as the only casualty of the accident was a soda pop Carpenter spilled during the ordeal. Though no injuries were reported by Carpenter and there were no obvious signs of trauma, he was transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation as a precautionary measure.

The accident serves as a reminder for drivers to pay close attention to pedestrians at intersections and while crossing parking lots. Children, or those bound to a wheelchair, may not be as tall as other pedestrians and when coupled with a vehicle with a high vantage point could result in a driver overlooking the unsuspecting pedestrian. School buses have been involved in these types of accidents in the past when a child would exit and walk in front of the bus, but too close for the driver to see. Many school districts have outfitted buses with an arm that swings out in front of the bus' bumper that forces pedestrians to walk several feet in front of the bus and in the driver's line of vision.