Last Friday March 26th I was at Gordon's Well. My kids we're making a berm track in camp. It looked fun to me, so I thought I would give it a try. Around one corner I would get a mean power slide in. Check out picture.



Around the next corner I couldn't hook it up as well. The sand has been really wet and the tires want to bite in too much. My buddy saw me having a great time and asked me if he could give it a try. So, we buckled in his daughter to the backseat and we jumped into the front seats, unbuckled (not so bright of an idea). He went through the first corner where I did the big power slide and he made things happen. Then he attempted to do it on the next corner. And then up and over it went onto the passenger side where I was seated. I tried to protect my head and arms so I leaned into the center of the Teryx, but the gravity of my buddy came down on me, even with the center console obstructing his fall. I was destined to fall out. The Teryx rolled onto my leg. As it went up onto the roof I was able to snake my leg out before the Teryx came to a stop.

Now for the good news:

1.The Teryx came out unscathed. There are only a few scratches on the powder coat on the roll cage where it was laid down.

2. No one died! Sometimes accidents like this can take a persons life. The buckles on the child were effective.

3. I've learned a hard but necessary lesson. (more on that later)

The bad news:

1. I got hurt. My fibula is broken (right leg) and I had to get surgery on my ankle. I need to get an MRI on my knee as soon as my ankle is done healing because the orthopedic surgeon believes I have a torn Meniscus.

2. I'm on bed rest for an undetermined amount of time at the moment. Doctor wants me to stay home from work which is a bummer. I'm a teacher and really enjoy working with kids.

Now the lessons learned:

1. Don't let anyone that is inexperienced drive your Teryx. It's just not worth it. I've driven everything in the dunes (three wheelers, quads, a samurai, a sandrail, golf cart and a Teryx) and have never been seriously injured or been in an accident. Only experienced drivers know how to drive, where to push the limits and where not to.

2. Safety restraints are a must even if you're farting around in camp like I was. I have Crow 4 points that I wasn't wearing (stupid). Now I'm getting a fifth point. I'm also considering wrist restraints.

3. Doors are a necessity. Get them, I am. This would have kept my legs in for sure.

4. Long Travel is a costly but super huge safety feature that I will be investing in. Perhaps the width and suspension would have prevented the roll over as well.

5. Insurance! Insurance! Insurance! Not only could I have jacked up the Teryx but most importantly someone beside me could of gotten injured. I could have been facing a potential lawsuit. I don't care how much your friends like you, if they get hurt or die, chances are your gonna face a lawsuit.

Sorry for the length of this. I just wanted to put this out there so that someone can learn from my mistakes. Please don't bash me for not wearing my seat belt. Believe me if you read this far, you know I learned my lesson. If you see or think of any other helpful lessons that one can learn from my mistake feel free to post them here. Thanks. :icon_thumleft:

sorry you got hurt.. but as the famous Forrest Gump once said, "stupid is stupid does"

Thanks for sharing. Might just stop others from making the same mistake.

Sounds as if a full recovery is in your future? That's good.

Looks like it was fun. To bad you got hurt and I hope you recover quickly..

Ya full recovery should be in my future. I gotta admit, the couch time is killing me. I just want to be out in the desert again.

That's gotta suck. Sorry you got hurt and I have to be honest, I am notorious for not buckling up to tool around, which is stupid cause I am notorious for rolling So, thanks for the advice and prayers go out to you on a speedy recovery so you can get back to work

Great points on the safety issues. I was driving my teryx over a blind hill (dirt road) around my house and hit an suv head on, I did not have my belts on (thought hey was just going around the block). After several surguries the outcome was two months bed rest,physical tharapy for three months (had to learn to walk again) and sevral pins in my hip. I basically dislocated (Broke) my hip,dislocated my knee,and broke my chin bone which was pertruding several inches out of the skin. The teryx just might of saved my life as the frame held up incrediable well. Makes you think.......

Wow! This makes me feel like I got off easy. Sorry to hear about your accident. Are you hitting the trails again or are you done for awhile with off roading?

Sold the teryx and bought a 2010 rzr s. Going alot slower over blind hills and wearing the belts every time.

Sorry to hear that you got hurt, good thing is the child was properly restrained. Your list of things learned was missing one small thing though, those tracks are notorious for causing accidents, mostly to those driving over them unexpectedly, please make sure that before you leave, that you make, or someone else in your group makes an effort to cover that track up. Thanks!! Hope you heal soon so you can get in a little more riding this season.

I just got insurance for mine. Only $18/mo for 100/300/100 coverage... It's a must have as far as I am concerned.

after the RZR I saw last weekend, first thing I would do is upgrade the belts. Guy launched it off about a 8'-10' razor. the piece of flat strap the seat belt bolts to between the seats tore right off. The whole belt then came loose. driver got launched out, seat and everything..

You learned your lesson the hard way for sure, but more important than anything is you'll be OK, but let this be a lesson...........................


NO KIDDIE TRACKS!!!

What happend to the driver/passanger?

Driver was launched and broke his knee (pins in it now) and ribs. Passenger broke his wrist and ribs. The RZR was a mess but I agree on the belts, 4 or 5 points for sure

I was wondering when someone was going to bring that up. I'm glad you're OK, but like everyone else has said, it was a lesson learned. When I bring someone out, they are a passenger, when they complain about why they can't drive my rhino, I tell them to either rent one, or buy one. Same goes for quads, or anything else.

First off / Glad you are OK!!!

This is a great post / Here is my 2cents


#1 5 point Harnesses Are a MUST!!!!

#2 Doors are a 100% MUST on any S X S

#3 Wrist Restraints on any S X S and Dune buggy are a MUST ($20 bucks and saves your hand!)

#4 Long Travel if you can swing it is a nice to have / not a must,...but nice


If you think about it / its about $100 bucks per seat for the belts and writs restraints....GREAT INSURANCE!!!

As far as Kidde tracks......DO NOT blame the kiddie track....it had NOTHING to do with this rollover!

Not one single mention of a HELMET?

Your leg could have just as easily been your head.

You should know, many of the rollover deaths are from the vehicle rolling over some one's head......sure, wear the belts, wrist restraints, put doors on it and insure it up the wazoo, but put a lid on!

All the insurance in the world can't bring you back to life.


JMHO

For sure. I'm looking into getting some helmets too.

AB --thanks for posting, good reminder for some and good lesson for others.
Ya -- get some helmets, those roll bars or rocks will show no mercy to your melon.

Keep it fun and SAFE everyone.....AB is is sharin' for a reason.

Sorry to hear that you got hurt but for having the balls to come out and post this...

A lesson learned is always a good thing... just sucks the way we sometimes have to learn them...

Since Ali threw a pic out thought heres another one. Should do a post on accidents and how they could/should of been avoided. This a pic of my right knee with the external fixator to hold knee/shin togther while healing. Worst part was the fixator is drilled into bone and moves freely with the muscle when it moves
Click to view attachment

Great post,

Hopefully allot of folks will read it and think twice before doing exactily the same thing.

Maybe if you camped with good folks things like this wouldn't have happened. and Eff the kiddie tracks. those things take out more people than the dunes. You may have wondered why my samurai and sand rail only had one driver. I think its because at that time we had the same friend.....dont let a clown drive your chit! Jus sayin. hope your car gets fixed, and hopefully lessons were learned all around.

edit for spelling

x100

Josh, sorry to hear you got hurt! What a bummer. Guess you wont be going on the guys trip with me this weekend. Get better soon, bro.




Dang Slash, don't be so hard on a guy. I agree... you need to be real selective on who you let drive your stuff. Some peeps have no courtesy when it comes to other peoples stuff. I learned the hard way when I let a friend ride my Banshee and he caused $2000 in damage to it. Come to think of it, I think he is a close family friend to the guy who wrecked Ali baba's Teryx.

You see. Its all about the friends you surround yourself with. not the ones who just want your chit for free. But im just giving him a hard time.

Bad decisions make good stories

[quote name='charred1' date='Mar 8 2010, 12:45 PM' post='3640406']
Josh, sorry to hear you got hurt! What a bummer. Guess you wont be going on the guys trip with me this weekend. Get better soon, bro.


Thanks Mike. Ya I won't be able to make that trip. I'm looking forward to the summer though. I guess this gives me time to equip the Teryx a little more.

Make sure you equip it with a "No Friends Allowed in The Drivers Seat" sticker.

or "keep your dick beaters off my machine"

Lol! no kidding!

He he he...nice...

Heal up AB...and come hang out with us next time you go...everyone brings their own schtuff to drive... ...yea I know it's a hard concept to grasp...

Great thread! Sorry pain was involved, hope your back out soon. I agree with your "added points in regards to safety" except the long travel, although its nice, and I have it, these things are plenty "safe" w/o long travel.






...and 100% agree with a few that posted their thoughts, FFFFNNNNN KIDDIE TRACKS ARE KILLERS!!!!!! F KIDDIE TRACKS

Another Side X Side Roll over near Pad 2 this weekend. A Standard Razor rolled with Two passengers while the driver was ok the girl riding with him some how had let her right arm go out the window and need less to say that during the roll over broke both bones her her right forearm. I'm sure her arm was pinned under the roll cage and ground during the roll over....a buddy of mine and I were first on the scene. gave as much help as possible until the rangers arrived....I hope she is ok!!

Ya I hear you as well as others on that. Many of my buddies have had some serious accidents on those kiddie tracks, but all of them were not doing 15mph or less. Those tracks are pretty stinking dangerous when your traveling at high speeds through camps. My kids as well as probably many others kids have enjoyed those tracks. I think the best policy is to slow down around camp, because the kiddie tracks aren't going anywhere, like it or not. Thanks for reply.

That is why I have 6 point belts which include wrist restraints. I have them in my sand car also but the sise by sides are so narrow you really need them. All the stock roll cages are junk also.
DON~~~

Rolling in a UTV is the most fun you can have with yore clothes on..

I concur JD...Its like sleeping with the fat girl at the party, hella fun but have to hang your head in shame.

Questions .....100/300 is bodily ins
....................100 is property damge.


I was under the impression that passengers in my vehicle are not covered under the bodily injury. That is to cover the other party . You need to look at the medical payments line for your coverage of passengers . Does anyone know if this is right ?

so how did you heal up? All better I hope...

Well it's been 6 months since the accident. I'm now walking on both legs after lots of physical therapy. Doc says that I'm done with high impact sports. I still have a little limp, but I'm making improvements. I'll be out at mother G again this year. Thanks for your concern.

Have you ever done any high impact sports?

High impact to your face

That's what she said...