Man in wheelchair gets a ride on truck grille

Updated: 06/08/07 6:51 AM


SAVE EMAIL PRINT POPULAR + Larger Font + Smaller Font PAW PAW, Mich. (AP) — A man was taken on a wild ride when his wheelchair became lodged in the grille of a tractortrailer and was pushed down a highway for four miles at about 50 mph, authorities said.

Ben Carpenter, 21, of Kalamazoo was unharmed but was taken to a hospital as a precaution. He had been secured to his wheelchair by a seat belt.

“The man spilled his soda pop, but he wasn’t upset,” said Sgt. Kathy Morton of the Michigan State Police.

About 4 p.m. Wednesday, a caller told police dispatchers, “You are not going to believe this: There is a semi truck pushing a guy in a wheelchair on Red Arrow Highway,” state police said. Authorities initially wondered whether the report was a prank call until others called with similar reports.

Officers stopped the truck — wheelchair still attached — at a trucking company.

An investigation revealed Carpenter had pulled in front of the truck at a gas station, and the chair’s handles somehow became attached to the front grille.