The Farmers Mart Feb/Mar 2014 - Issue 32 | Page 57

machinery

Runaway tractor ends up in garden
A runaway tractor narrowly missed smashing into a Devon
house after the brakes failed and it careered down a steep hill
– with only the farmer’s Collie dog in the driving seat.
Henry Selway (77) had parked his
Ford 7840 tractor at the top of a hill in
Colyton, East Devon, while he joined
his daughter for lunch in the town,
leaving his dog in the vehicle’s cab.
But while Henry ate lunch, the tractor’s
handbrake failed and the vehicle hurtled
down the steep road – with Molly the dog in
the front seat. The tractor crossed the road,
broke through a garden fence, and came to
rest just feet from a house.
The homeowners were away at the time
and no-one was injured.
Henry said: “I’ve been driving tractors
since I was 14, and that day I parked my
tractor as I always do – with the handbrake
on and the wheels turned inwards. “I only
became aware of the incident when a
scaffolder shouted that the tractor was
rolling off with my dog inside.”

The tractor was found on its side in the
garden of the property, with Mollie unhurt,
and the handbrake still on.
Henry’s insurance company, Cornish
Mutual, managed the clear up as part of his
Agricultural Motor Vehicle Policy.
Although tractors do not require an MOT
by law, the most motor insurance policies
state that all reasonable precautions
must be taken to keep the insured vehicle
maintained in a proper state of repair to
ensure their insurance cover remains valid.
Henry did put the handbrake on and leave
his vehicle in a safe position, but accident
investigators highlighted that the age of the
vehicle, and the cold weather conditions that
day, might have resulted in the handbrake
failing.
Henry added: “The tractor caused quite
a bit of damage, but thankfully no one was

When it comes to fork lift truck attachments
Invicta are at the forefront of this industry.
With our in-house design, manufacturing
and painting facility we turn your
requirement in to a reality.
Our reputation as the market leader has grown over our
90 years' experience in designing, laser cutting, pressing and
fabrication of mechanical attachments. This means we are always
able to supply the best of equipment to the FARMER to their
requirements at that right Price.

injured and the damage to the property was
limited to the owner’s fence and a number
of trees, which were replaced. I grew up
leaving my tractor in gear as the ultimate
failsafe, but with these new tractors you
can’t do that.”

‘It is a timely reminder’
Alan Goddard, Cornish Mutual MD,
said: “Thankfully no one was injured in this
extraordinary case and the property affected
only suffered superficial damage. However,
by making people aware of this incident we
can highlight the need for farmers to make
sure their vehicles are in the best condition
they can be. There is no suggestion that
Henry was at fault here, but it is a timely
reminder that these things can happen.”

British
Manufacturing
reliability & expertise

Their two most successful lines (which always feature at their
stand at the Great Yorkshire Show) are the very popular “Basil”
Fork mounted Sweeper “Brush” A Best seller for 8 Years
and comes in 3 sizes 1500, 1800 and 2450mm wide with 8
rows of Bristles.
And secondly the Access Platform Forklift Attachment 950mm Long - Lift-up Bar Access providing a safe environment
for a wide range of maintenance and inspections to be carried
out from, with the reassurance that they have been manufactured
in accordance with HSE document PM28