Posted on 10/31/2004 11:43:37 AM PST by freepatriot32
South Bend, IN - A South Bend man is dead after his 10-year-old son accidentally ran him over with the family's truck.
Police say 47-year-old Gregg Vanavermate and his son were using the truck to pull bushes out of the ground Friday afternoon.
The boy got behind the wheel to pull the truck forward and accidentally reversed the vehicle, pinning his father to the house.
The man later died at the hospital.
He'll probably need counseling -- I can't imagine having to deal with something like that at 10 years old.
Damn, a 10-year old.
Tragic. This young man will need a lot of support to get through this.
I am sorry for the child, but what in the name of God was that man thinking letting a 10 year old even get near the wheel of a car or truck. I would nominate him for a Darwin Award but he has already reproduced.
The child is going to need a lot therapy and relatives that tell him he's not at fault.
Why would anyone put a 10-year old behind the wheel?
There's a reason it's against the law.
If pulling bushes is a 2-man job, then get 2 MEN to do it!
That said, my prayers and condolences to the boy and his family.
That is such a sad story.
I grew up on a farm and did such work at age 10. Some farm kids have the maturity to handle the job of driving tractors and such and others don't. This same accident could have happened even with an adult. My thoughts are that it is going to be much harder for a child to deal with this accident than an adult.
Gezz, what a stupid move.
A guy I knew when I was a kid accidentally shot and killed his little brother on a hunting trip. YEARS later, Roger was still not the same, he never got back to normal. He seemed to be in shock the rest of his life, his eyes retained that glassy stare. But there wasn't a lot of therapy our counseling back then.
Too bad this man did not use my bush-pulling method. It's called a hack saw, a forked spade plus as much abdominal fortitude as I can spare.
DEAR LORD, GOD,
PLEASE COMFORT THIS SON AND FAMILY AS ONLY YOU CAN. IN JESUS' NAME!
WHAT A HORROR!
Farm families have been doing such for many decades with relative safety. Of course, wise farm fathers insure the child is well trained AND THEN STILL WATCHES ALERTLY IN HAZARDOUS SITUATIONS.
Sorry I'll still don't believe a 4th or 5th grader has any business under any circumstances driving a car or truck. My great uncle farmed over 2500 acres and my 2nd cousin was alwayy complaining that Uncle John wouldn't let him operate the tractor or the combine till he was 14. Although from the age of 12 he did get to pilot the riding lawnmower.
Depends on a lot of factors.
I was mowing hay at probably around 8 years old.
I've known many 10 yr olds that I'd let do that and I've known many 30 yr olds I wouldn't let loose with safety scissors.
I drove a bulldozer at that age and a tractor. Even got knocked down and passed between the wheels of a hay wagon because I was smart enough to roll away from the wheels.
God be with the kid as thats a heavy load to bear but frankly I don't see anything wrong with the guys decision to let his kid help.
Me too. I was doing plowing and disking with an old 8N tractor as well as driving the truck around the hay field while the men threw the bales on it. Just to mention a couple of things.
possible one for your just damn ping list
That's so sad. I try my best to grieve with those who suffer, but my attempts will always fall short because I simply can't experience what they are experiencing. All I can do is listen, and let them know that there's a God who loves them through His Son.
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