another tragic tractor story

[cj in tx]

this article is from the "caller times" newspaper in corpus christi tx.
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"FRIENDS AND FAMILY REMEMBER POLICE OFFICER WHO DIED IN FIRE"
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CORPUS CHRISTI — The flag outside Corpus Christi’s police station hung at half mast Thursday to honor a veteran officer who died days into a vacation he took to get some work done at home.

Sheriff’s officials said Joe Harrison, 51, was using a tractor Wednesday to pull stumps from his property in the 4900 block of County Road 30, south of Robstown.

The neighbors who reported the blaze told investigators they talked to Harrison when he got to his home before 4 p.m. and he told them he planned to do yard work with the tractor, said Capt. Mike Lowrance of the Nueces County Sheriff’s Office.

“They watched him try to pull a couple stumps before they went inside,” Lowrance said. “By the time they went back outside, the fire was already going.”

Officials believe Harrison was working on a stump just feet from the house when the tension caused the tractor to flip, pinning Harrison’s legs underneath.

“Best we could tell, the gas all ran out onto the engine and ignited,” Lowrance said. “The way the wind was blowing it just lit the whole house on fire. It burned to the ground.”
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cj in tx

 

[heybusdriver]

My sympathy goes out to his family and loved one's.
We all need to be reminded from time to time of just how dangerous all machinery can be. Always try and be as careful as possible.

Happy Tractoring
Stan
1949 8N146710
1949 8N179555
1949 8N197904
1949 8N199000
1950 8N254079
1951 8N362039

 

[lha]

I used to live about 150m south of Corpus,and have been there many times.Sorry to hear about the guy's bad luck.This may help remind all of us to plan your moves before you take on a job.I've always heard it's not safe to pull stumps with a tractor.My condolences,---lha

 

[C.R.]

ooh boy what an awfull way to go i feel bad for those folks

 

[Double Low Turtle]

Let this be a reminder to us all. I have raised the front tires off the ground pulling stumps. If my foot had slipped off the clutch I could have flipped also. Most accidents I have had was when I did not take my time and think things through. I now pull anything stationary by hooking to the front bumper and going in reverse. Much safer plus you can keep your eyes on what you are trying to pull.

 

[36 Coupe]

Gas cap on my 640 has a ball that stops gas from running out of the vent if the tractor flips.I got the cap free 24 years ago.Pulling from the front bumper is risky.All the strain is on the engine block and radius rods.Ive seen Farmall Cs with the front end pulled off because all the strain is on 4 cast iron ears on the engine block.Hitching to loads that wont move will kill you.If the wheels dont slip the tractor will flip.85% of tractor rollovers are to the side.The right gas cap would have saved the mans life.