Jack Stands, People

Status
Not open for further replies.
Originally Posted By: chubbs1
Says the jack slipped. Do you have more info than what is written in this article? Reads as if he had at least one jack stand under the vehicle.


A jack is not a jack stand.
 
Originally Posted By: chubbs1
Says the jack slipped. Do you have more info than what is written in this article? Reads as if he had at least one jack stand under the vehicle.

Are we reading the same article as you or am I missing something?
" . . . 5-year-old boy was severely injured and later died after the car his father was repairing slipped off a jack and fell on top of him."
 
I read the report from the s.o. ( I work there). R/F wheel off, told 5 year old to stay away. were working inside car, fuse block. Vehicle slipped off of jack, while they were in it.
Anyone that has children know a 5 year old can disappear in a second....

totally senseless and avoidable... I know the deputy that responded. It is bothering him, as he has children too.

Boy was pinned under the A arm.. Totally preventable in many ways.

I do feel for the family, as they will have to suffer for the rest of their lives.

Dave
 
Last edited:
And I absolutely guarantee you, that when this goes to trial - and it will - they will blame the car maker, the jack maker, and anyone else, even if the father is at fault.
 
Condolences to the family. Even I have jack stands, not so good one, I hate working under the car. I use jack stands when I remove the wheel to do the brake flush, I tried to remove the oil filter without jack up the cars, I can do it on the S2000 easily and a little harder on the LS400.

When I need to replace manual transmission fluid and gear fluid of the S2000 I took it to my mechanic.

I don't like the idea of laying under the car for any extended time.
 
Originally Posted By: Deltona_Dave
I read the report from the s.o. ( I work there). R/F wheel off, told 5 year old to stay away. were working inside car, fuse block. Vehicle slipped off of jack, while they were in it.

About what I figured. Just to be clear - my question wasn't directed at you but at the poster who said: "Reads as if he had at least one jack stand under the vehicle."
 
Last edited:
Really sad.
Good jackstands would certainly prevent this kind awful event.
I have worked on cars on jacks before when I have done things that don't require getting under the car, like brakes.
I would never get underneath a car supported with only a jack.
If it's positioned correctly and not used on a hill, a jack will not slip.
They can fail without warning and drop the car, though, and it doesn't matter whether they are hydraulic or mechanical.
I had this happen once probably thirty years ago while changing the front pads on the '76 Civic we then had, using the car's supplied jack.
Had I been under the car, I might not be writing this now, althought the old Civic was quite light.
Five year old boys are usually very curious and pretty fearless.
I know my sons were at that age.
The loss of a child is every parent's worst nightmare.
I offer my empathy as well as my sympathy to the family.
 
Originally Posted By: user52165
And I absolutely guarantee you, that when this goes to trial - and it will - they will blame the car maker, the jack maker, and anyone else, even if the father is at fault.

Don't get me started...You are 100% correct. If he is lucky the jack did not come with the car and he can sue both the jack manufacturer.

Reminds me of the woman who pepper sprayed a bunch of people at Walmart. She is going to Sue Walmart and I assume the people peppered will do the same.
 
The lack of jack stands isn't the only wrong here. There's also the end result of limp-wristed parenting! Five year olds can be expected to do what they are told but nobody wants to crush there widdle sense of self. The boy was under there because nobody with any good sense or previously established authority told him not to.
 
You ever had a five year old boy?
I used to say that if a boy doesn't need at least a yearly trip to the ER for stitches, he's not much of a boy.
They are curious and they are fearless.
You can't keep them under control every second, and in this case, a second was probably all it took.
Children should not be overly protected.
If you want them to grow into competent adults, you have to let them make decisions and live with them.
This was just a bad day for all concerned, and I can't find it within myself to criticize the parents.
 
I have had two that age. I understand the challenge but I also understand how achievable a goal it is to have them stay out of the way if someone bothers to tell them. Mine have always been curious about repairs underway. Sometimes I let them hang around and watch but other times they get stink-eye + "Beat it!" and they know what to do, all depending on the intensity/danger involved at the time. By that age they both had come to the conclusion that obeying was better than escalating up the progressive discipline decision tree (HR would be so proud of their buzzwords in use).
 
Originally Posted By: fdcg27
I can't find it within myself to criticize the parents.


I'll bet if that was YOUR 5 year old, you'd find it within yourself.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: fdcg27

I had this happen once probably thirty years ago while changing the front pads on the '76 Civic we then had, using the car's supplied jack.


I had this happen also while using the car's supplied scissor jack to replace a flat tire on the side of the road. The screw drive snapped causing the car to hit me in the shoulder and push me down into the ditch. Luckily, I came out of it with just a small bruise on my shoulder.
 
Being a parent, this story make me mad, not because of the circumstances but rather the loss. If the little boy in this story was like any other little boy they just want to help and are endlessly curious. Prayers to the little boy and the parents.
 
Easy to blame however in the end an innocent life taken away. Nothing was done malicious here.

I hope the parents and balance of family hold together. I have a 4&5 yr old would forever be devastated.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

N
IDEAL 7000 lb Portable Tilting Vehicle Lift
Replies
8
Views
2K
thastinger
A
Long distance Facebook score on a spare tire kit and set of hubcaps.
Replies
11
Views
1K
racer12306
BMW Dom
Thoughts on Daytona 3 Ton Jack stands?
Replies
15
Views
16K
Jmlo96
slo town
My experience 30 floors up during the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
2
Replies
29
Views
6K
SammyChevelleTypeS3
Carmudgeon
Tire dismounting - hack mechanic methods?
Replies
12
Views
3K
Carmudgeon
Back
Top Bottom