EDDINGTON, Maine — An employee at S & S Auto Sales in Eddington walked away after the vehicle he was working on slipped off its jack and fell on top of him Tuesday, according to a sheriff’s deputy who responded to the call.
Darren Smith, 44, was under an SUV working on the fuel tank around 10 a.m. when the jack shifted, dropping the vehicle on top of him, Penobscot County Sheriff’s Deputy Daren Mason said after leaving the scene.
Several other employees working in the shop and yard, located on Route 178, heard Smith shout and and ran over to help, according to Mason.
“He walked out on his own power,” Mason said.
The deputy said that aside from abrasions and bruising on Smith’s torso, he looked to have escaped relatively unscathed. Mason said the tires were on the SUV when it fell.
Eddington rescue tended to Smith at the scene and Capital Ambulance took him to Eastern Maine Medical Center about 20 minutes after the accident so he could be checked for internal injuries.
Very lucky man! Never but never trust a jack!
Or a Jill!
Especially a red haired Jill……..:-)
We all get complacent and think that jack will hold i am just going to be a minute.Use jack stands and secure anything you get under.
I used to change my own oil but I quit doing that many years ago after nearly getting killed with a jack that sank into the driveway pavement…weak spot. It was a Chevy Suburban.
A wonderful young friend of mine lost his life that way when his truck slipped the jack and it fell on him. What a tragedy!!!
Hope he recovers soon. Am sure he’ll take a few minutes more and block things up real good before he gets under another car or truck. Some folks don’t get a second chance with things like that.
Rule # 1 – Block it if you intend to get under it.
Rule # 2 – See rule #1.
I’m not a mechanic, nor do I ever want to play one. What does ‘blocking it’ mean?
It means using wood blocking, jack stands or other solid objects to hold the weight of the vehicle.
Rule #1 of auto mechanics: NEVER go under a vehicle that is held up only by a jack.
Thanks Scott!
It sounds like someone will be getting an OSHA visit soon.
The only automotive experience I have is two years of vocational high school and even I know to never go under a vehicle without jack stands.
An experienced mechanic should know better.