TRACTOR CRASH

 

I found an old picture while doing some “spring cleaning”. It’s a pic of the “Super M” tractor that Uncle Ned got in a wreck with. During one of his countless trips to TEACO, the local “beer joint”, he was on the tractor. After getting no doubt really “plastered”, he got on the tractor and took it on the road to head home. It was twilight and I doubt if he ever thought to turn on the tractor lights. Even if he did there were no taillights of any kind on the tractor any way. While making the less than ¼ mile trip home, he was hit in the rear of the tractor by a car. He was in a chest and arm cast for quite a while as a result of his injuries and as a result, Tim and I had to take up all the farm duties. I don’t remember the year, but my best guess was it was in 1963 or 64 when we were teenagers. We always heard that the guy that hit him was going to sue him, but nothing ever happened fortunately. As many times as we take the tractor on the road while hauling various kinds of equipment, it’s a wonder we didn’t get into more wrecks! I guess we led a charmed life, at least until Uncle Ned got nailed. I recall one time when we had a hay field on the other side of RT 113 in front of our farm that while crossing the road we lost about half of the hay load. It fell all over both lanes of the road and held up traffic while Tim and I and Uncle Ned frantically threw the bales off to the side of the road. That was really scary and embarrassing! When the load fell, I was riding on top and landed on a bunch of bales and thus escaped any injury. Another time we lost a load while heading up the barn ramp and I was also on top! Just like on the road, I landed on a bunch of bales as they fell and rolled along the rock ramp bank! Looking back, I can see why farming is listed among the most dangerous jobs!