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Owner of Segway Company dies in tragic Segway accident

The JugglerThe Juggler Posts: 49,423
edited September 2010 in All Encompassing Trip
http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09 ... way-crash/

Segway Owner Dies in Segway Crash
By STEPHEN WILLIAMS
Call it irony, fate, or simply an accident: in Britain, the owner of Segway died over the weekend when he apparently drove one of the devices off a cliff near his home, The Associated Press reported.


Reuters

Jimi Heselden, who owned Segway, Inc. until his death on Sunday.In West Yorkshire, police reported that James W. Heselden, 62, who took over control of the company earlier this year, accidentally steered the Segway off a 30-foot cliff and into a river while riding on his estate, about 140 miles from London. The exact cause of death is not yet established, the police said.

The Segway Human Transporter came to market in 2002 as the invention of Dean Kamen, an entrepreneur from New Hampshire who made his fortune after he created the first insulin pump for treatment of diabetes. At the time, Mr. Kamen said that the Segway would have an impact on society similar to that of the personal computer.

The person-mover, priced at about $5,000, uses sophisticated gyroscopic technology as well as electronics and some software controls.



A Segway.The rider essentially steers one by leaning fore and aft, and aiming to the left or right by pulling the handlebars; the company calls this “LeanSteer” technology. The Segway’s top speed is about 12 miles per hour, the company says.

In Britain, the Segway cannot be piloted on public roads or paths but only on private property. But they are legal in several European countries. In the United States, Segways are approved for limited use in many states, The Telegraph reports.

Celebrities, including Jackie Chan, adopted the Segway as an alternative transportation device for a time, although the Segway image took a hit in 2003 when President George W. Bush fell off of one.
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Comments

  • FenwayFaithfulFenwayFaithful Posts: 8,626
    I saw that. Very bizarre. Does anyone here own one of these things? Or do you guys know anyone who rocks one of these?
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  • 8181 Needing a ride to Forest Hills and a ounce of weed. Please inquire within. Thanks. Or not. Posts: 58,276
    seems like he should have jumped off before he drove off the cliff.

    i don't think anybody but mall cops, city cops and city tour companies own them.
    81 is now off the air

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  • The JugglerThe Juggler Posts: 49,423
    my cousin has one. she rides that thing all around annapolis.
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  • RYEzupSFRYEzupSF Posts: 6,003
    How ironic. RIP

    I rent them from a guy by my house every once in awhile. My friends and I like to extreme segway the hills in San Francisco, but I may be a little more careful now. :?
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  • PJFAN13PJFAN13 Posts: 1,422
    wheelie sad
    11.30.93~10.2.96~9.13.98~9.1.00~8.25.00~7.3.03~7.5.03
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    11.21.13~8.27.16(EV)~11.14.16(TOTD)~4.13.20~9.27.20~9.26.21~10.2.21
    2.15.22 (EV)~2.25.22 (EV)~2.27.22 (EV)~5.3.22~5.7.22~9.17.24~9.29.24
  • RYEzupSFRYEzupSF Posts: 6,003
    PJFAN13 wrote:
    wheelie sad

    nice. :lol:
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  • CJMST3KCJMST3K Posts: 9,722
    81 wrote:
    seems like he should have jumped off before he drove off the cliff.


    Yeah, seems a little like this in comedic timing.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLlUgilKqms
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  • Gary CarterGary Carter Posts: 14,067
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9qYF9DZPdw


    R.I.P owner of segway
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  • PoncierPoncier Posts: 17,272
    RYEzupSF wrote:
    How ironic.
    Its like raaaaiiiinn on your wedding day, a free riiiiiiide when you've already paid.
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  • mookeywrenchmookeywrench Posts: 5,940
    that's gotta be bad for business
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  • catefrancescatefrances Posts: 29,003
    mookeywrench wrote:
    that's gotta be bad for business

    i wouldve thought twas their ugliness that was bad for business.
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  • The JugglerThe Juggler Posts: 49,423
    catefrances wrote:
    mookeywrench wrote:
    that's gotta be bad for business

    i wouldve thought twas their ugliness that was bad for business.

    the man just plunged to his own tragic death and you decide to ridicule his appearance.

    have you no shame cate frances?
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  • catefrancescatefrances Posts: 29,003
    The Jeagler wrote:
    catefrances wrote:
    mookeywrench wrote:
    that's gotta be bad for business

    i wouldve thought twas their ugliness that was bad for business.

    the man just plunged to his own tragic death and you decide to ridicule his appearance.

    have you no shame cate frances?

    no. not really. ;):lol:
    hear my name
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  • The JugglerThe Juggler Posts: 49,423
    catefrances wrote:
    The Jeagler wrote:
    catefrances wrote:

    the man just plunged to his own tragic death and you decide to ridicule his appearance.

    have you no shame cate frances?

    no. not really. ;):lol:
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  • LikeAnOceanLikeAnOcean Posts: 7,718
    They look so dumb. Stop being a lazy ass and walk or get a bike.

    Love this clip though! :lol:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocVQDKZ3TQ8
  • Phantom PainPhantom Pain Posts: 9,876
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  • RYEzupSFRYEzupSF Posts: 6,003
    Poncier wrote:
    RYEzupSF wrote:
    How ironic.
    Its like raaaaiiiinn on your wedding day, a free riiiiiiide when you've already paid.



    I wonder if he was thinking "Well isn't this nice..."
    Isn't it ironic... don't you think
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  • The Waiting Trophy ManThe Waiting Trophy Man Niagara region, Ontario, Canada Posts: 12,158
    "the exact cause of death is not yet established", the police said. I suspect that the 30 foot fall off a cliff and into a river played a part in his death.
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  • catefrancescatefrances Posts: 29,003
    The Waiting Trophy Man wrote:
    "the exact cause of death is not yet established", the police said. I suspect that the 30 foot fall off a cliff and into a river played a part in his death.

    well he might have had a heart attack and that caused him to drive over the cliff. therefore it might not have been the fall that killed him. he might also have drowned if he fell into water, which again means the fall might not have killed him. 8-)
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  • dunkmandunkman Posts: 19,646
    apparently his Segway was a special edition by Toyota.
    oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
  • nuffingmannuffingman Posts: 3,014
    The Waiting Trophy Man wrote:
    "the exact cause of death is not yet established", the police said. I suspect that the 30 foot fall off a cliff and into a river played a part in his death.
    I was thinking the same thing. :?
  • dunkmandunkman Posts: 19,646
    some people have suggested its ironic how he died...

    explain?
    oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
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