Man crushed by car despite it being on jack stands properly installed (vehicle, auto)
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On July 4, 2019, a man in Pahrump, Nevada died from a car crushing him while he was working under it, even though it was properly jacked according to the Nye County Sheriff's Office. It is speculated the California earthquake in Ridgecrest knocked the car off the stands. His body was not discovered for five days after the earthquake.
Pictured is the car which was jacked up with a bumper jack. Cinder blocks and 2 x 4's were also found near the car. [Blood spots are blurred out by the sheriff's office in the pic]:
This is the first fatality from the earthquakes July 4 and 5.
So please be careful when using jack stands. Nothing is guaranteed. Have someone nearby to help in case something unexpected happens. I used to do my own auto work and now I would never do it after this.
Hopefully he died quickly, I can't fathom the agony he would have went through had he died of thirst over 2-3 days with the weight of the jeep on him. Few ways to go would be more horrific.
Hopefully he died quickly, I can't fathom the agony he would have went through had he died of thirst over 2-3 days with the weight of the jeep on him. Few ways to go would be more horrific.
I agree with Turkey. He may have been propped up properly, but there's no jack stands, and a bumper jack, cinder blocks and dirt are hardly ideal surfaces.
If it was on jack stands, properly installed, there would be no story, as even with the earthquake, it would have stayed up.
The biggest issue is people putting them the wrong way. If you look at the picture, that's the wrong way. It gives you a flat surface but they can easily crack on the right angles that are vertical/horizontal when positioned like that, for maximum strength the holes need to be vertical so there is no vertical/horizontal right angles. Put a piece of plywood and/or wood block over the holes to evenly distribute the load.
That said I'm not suggesting using cinder blocks for holding up a vehicle. They may be useful for additional support as safety measure and perhaps that is what this guy was using them for. Once on the stands if they aren't going to be in the way I'll throw the rims under the frame and block up.
If it was on jack stands, properly installed, there would be no story, as even with the earthquake, it would have stayed up.
Jack stands do not have a very wide stance, especially the smaller ones. If the weight shifts on the vehicle they can get tipped.
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