" Going For A Ride "

[Bishop1]

Let's Go For A Ride -


http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles...00010000000001

Truck Takes Man in Wheelchair on Wild Ride




AP
PAW PAW, Mich. (June 8) - 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."


Copyright 2007 The Associated Press.
The information contained in the AP news report may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written
authority of The Associated Press.
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2007-06-07 15:28:06





Bishop1