21.11.2007

Telehandler Hits wheelchair

A lady crossing the road at a zebra crossing was struck by a telescopic handler yesterday and dragged several metres down the road.

A woman travelling in a motorised wheelchair was struck by a telescopic handler on a zebra crossing in north Philadelphia, Pennsylvania yesterday afternoon. The Gradall telehandler dragged her several metres down the street before coming to a halt.

Although the lady was hit on the crossing police say that they aren't sure if she was crossing the street or was traveling along the middle of the road.

The woman, a quadriplegic, was rushed to Hahnemann Hospital with a severe head injury and is listed in critical condition
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The wheelchair was dragged under the telehandler

Philadelphia accident investigators quickly arrived on the scene and interviewed the telehandler driver who said that he had not seen the woman.