The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: SallyintNorth on July 28, 2011, 11:24:56 am
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Sorry I have been absent for a few days, we've been clipping and making hay. But also we had a tragedy on Sunday and I haven't felt like chatting.
Some of you already know we have to move our stock on country roads and sometimes have some heart-in-mouth moments. But on Sunday it was far, far worse.
Local lad going fast over the blind brow completely failed to react to the ewes and lambs coming up the road. It was carnage.
Bella, my sweet affectionate Texdale, was killed outright, her no.1 son had to be destroyed the next day. Two other lambs were pulled out from under the car and had to be destroyed. The ewe pulled from under the front of the car is so far still with us and seems to be okay now. A further ewe died from internal bleeding yesterday.
I won't be able to say much more, I suppose, as our insurance looks like they will claim against the motorist's insurance. As well as the sheep, there's 14m of stone wall to be rebuilt, three visits by the dead cart and a socking great vet's bill.
A neighbour who works on road maintenance is organising 'Livestock on road' temporary road signs for me - the police say they are happy for us to use them. So at least some good will come out of this.
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OMG that is so so awful.so sorry for you
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thats heart-breaking :'(
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How terrible for you, that's one of the reason I do not drive my ponies on the road.
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Oh Sally, there just aren't the words :'(
I'm so sorry and hope that your ewe continues to make good progress.
Did they drink/drug test the youth in question ? No reaction at all makes it sound likely he was 'influcenced' by something >:(
Hopefully he'll have learned a valuable lesson too - country roads are NOT for speeding on.
Karen x
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Devastating, I hope he IS insured, such a horrid experiance, hope the young lad has learnt a valuable lesson!!!
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i cannot stand young lads flying round in their 'hot hatches' and scoobies!! and the like...i got knocked off my bike twice by idiots like this!! im so sorry about your poor sheep..i wouldn't feel like talking either :(...i hate to say it but i doubt the litte s?@t has learnt anything from it if he walked away un hurt!! it'll be somthing to tell mates down the pub >:( ...unfortunatly its rare to find a young person who has any respect for living things including humans these days...unless they have grown up with an animal background etc......
i know this is not true of all youngsters but it is getting worse in my eyes...at least it is round here...
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Sally
So sorry to read about this awful event. :'( It is always dreadul to lose stock you have an especial attachment to and in this so avoidable way. Hope the signage does the trick and makes people more aware and slow down.
Thinking of you, hope your ewe continues to make good progress.
Bestest Mandy :pig:
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That's awful. I really feel for you.
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What a terrible thing to happen. I'm so sorry to hear about your poor sheep. Just hope the new road signs have some effect. Was the youth in question charged with anything??
Keep your chin up - hope the surviving ewe pulls through OK!
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Did they drink/drug test the youth in question ? No reaction at all makes it sound likely he was 'influcenced' by something >:(
Hopefully he'll have learned a valuable lesson too - country roads are NOT for speeding on.
He was asked if he had a mobile phone on him, to which he replied he did not. No other tests were done and as far as we are aware no charges were brought. I was very surprised that the police didn't measure the road - but we did, and it was over 60m from where he'd have seen the sheep to where he came to rest.
I absolutely do think he will have learned a valuable lesson, and I suppose it's as well he learned it on sheep rather than cyclists, or a family out for a Sunday afternoon walk ...
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So, so sorry. What a trauma.
I cannot believe that the Police did not test him for drink / drugs. My chum had a bump in her car (not her fault) and she was breathalyzed but it was routine in all RTAs. I think I'd be asking a few questions about that.
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I'm so sorry for your losses, how terrible. I agree with Rosemary and wonder why the boy wasn't questioned a bit further - such a shame that they don't put the appropriate value on the lives of what he killed with his recklessness x
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Poor poor you and the sheep.
I was brought up in northumberland and some of the rural roads ended up being a race track for some kids, I lost my cousin in a (horse) road accident due to stupid young drivers going to fast and not caring. The police should have breath tested as it was still deaths and as you say it could have easily been a family out walking.
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it comes under dereliction of duty :farmer:
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Sorry for your lost sheep and the anguish you have been caused, but that could have been a human life he took - it might have been you! You MUST ask the Police what they are going to do about it, ask why he wasn't breathalised, and whether he has been charged, and tell them you want to press charges. You may think he has learned his lesson, but the 20 year old who killed my husband in the same way didn't - killed some animals a couple of weeks later, adn had a number of other convictions both before and after killing Sandy. He got off witha small fine, points on his licecne and having to resit his test, but that was 20 years ago. Gosh, how time flies..............
There is now a prison sentence for killing a person in this manner, and certainly a large fine for animals I am sure. Who is paying that section of the Police Force - us! Sorry if I seem blunt but I feel very strongly about not having had justice all those years ago, not so much for myself, but for my children being deprived of their father at a crucial time in their lives.
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Oh Sally, I'm so sorry :-*
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Sally - so sorry to hear your story - we have roads like race tracks up here and I just plod along in my wee van holding everyone up!! Not many animals use the roads but one farmers moves his dairy cattle daily across the road and I always think I wouldn't like to be in his shoes. I do hope your other ewe/ewes pull through - keeping my fingers crossed.
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Absolutely horrific, I've no other way of saying it.
If you feel up to it, I'd certainly push the police on what's happening with this lad. Accidents happen, but to not even *start* to react? That's ringing alarm bells.
:bouquet:
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I felt sorry and tearful reading that :(
Country roads have a national speed limit - no justification at all for bad drivers - but I would be surprised and devastated if I came down a lane and met anything coming the other way.
In all honesty it might get to a point where their insurance is claiming from yours for a 50/50 deal.
Baz
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Actually I take that back - I've never had a claim in my whole driving life of 20 years - some people do drive the backroads like looneys - if you cant see over the brow of a hill then you should not come over it doing 60mph.
I'd still be in touch with my insurers though in your case as I wouldn't be surprised if they try to make a claim off you. Are you in a farming union? They normally have some good cloat when it comes to things like this.
Big heartfelt hugs - horrible experience.
Baz
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OMG - I'm so so so sorry, what an absolute horror for you. {{{hugs}}}
Mx
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i,m so sorry to read this, best wishes, julie.
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Very sorry to hear the news :( I'm really surprised the police didn't take more tests
Hope the ewe pulls through
:bouquet:
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I can only add to whats been said already ... so very sorry about your lovely sheep & lambs, and hope the ewe recovers :(
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Sally what can I say? It's just awful. Chin up girl xxxxx :bouquet:
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Oh this is just so sad and awful... I am also very surprised that the police did not breathalise him, I was in an RTA a few years ago (unhurt, but the car was a write-off) and it was not my fault. I was still breathalised, as was the other driver. I was told that this is standard procedure.
If there was damage to a wall as well as the the killed/injured livestock he should still be charged, even if it is (just) points on his licence???
I have noticed that one farmer down the road from us, who sometimes moves his sheep between fields on foot has put up a home-made sign to warn of animals on the road. It is well sited and visible from quite a distance.
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I'm so sorry this happened to you and your poor sheep, i would also be pushing the police to take it further, I don't blame you for not feeling like posting but i think you have a lot of friends on here and sometimes it just helps to vent.
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OMG Sally, it must have been terrifying for you, having to deal with your scared & hurt animals must have been awful. I echo what others have said here - I am surprised at the horizontal response of your local police ::)
In the meantime, I hope your ewe recovers, sending you big hugs :bouquet:
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My deepest sympathies. It is a terrible thing to happen. Sadly people seem to treat country lanes as racetracks all over the country. Here it is just as much posh ****s in Range Rover Sports old enough to know better but too stupid to care hurtling about as it is young idiots. I have seen so many near misses with horses, pedestrians and agricultural machinery. At least with the latter the car is likely to come off worst. I suspect it is all part of the greater malaise that most people simply do not understand the countryside is a working environment, not a playpark/themepark.
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So sorry to hear this awful news.......................Stupid people P**S me off.
I get so angry when things like this happen. Just glad it wasn't you...
Ian
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I hate >:( people speeding on country lanes or in villages and towns, the motorway is a different matter!!! Cars often pass fast in this little place and I worry one day some child will be crossing or playing on thier bike!!! Speed limits are for a reason!!
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What an awful thing to happen. I am so, so sorry.
Beth
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Terrible terrible thing to happen, sympathy and hugs from up here.
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So sorry - what a dreadful thing to happen. Nothing will bring your sheep back, but perhaps this young man will have learnt a valuable lesson when driving on country lanes.
I have to ride and drive our ponies along a single track country lane, and it is used by boy racers, who come round the corners at an alarming speed. I hate being on the lane, but have no choice.
I have noticed a lot of dairy farms have flashing lights, similar to traffic lights, they can activate when moving their cows. And one farmer has to cross a main road with his herd, and usually has a couple of men with him, standing in the road, holding the traffic back on both sides. But, in a way, they are risking their lives, as some drivers try and dodge round them!!
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Thank you TASers, your kind messages have touched me. :bouquet:
Annie, ellisr - your stories put mine into some perspective. It was - and is - terribly upsetting but at least it wasn't one of us. I hear where you are coming from Annie; we have put our trust in the NFU to push the police. I am very angry with the police officer for her lack of diligence.
I cannot believe that the Police did not test him for drink / drugs. My chum had a bump in her car (not her fault) and she was breathalyzed but it was routine in all RTAs. I think I'd be asking a few questions about that.
Yes I thought the same but apparently it's different because there were no humans involved, no damage to a human or a human's vehicle (apart from the driver's own vehicle, of course.)
one farmer has to cross a main road with his herd, and usually has a couple of men with him, standing in the road, holding the traffic back on both sides. But, in a way, they are risking their lives, as some drivers try and dodge round them!!
Yes, we find the same when we do have someone holding back the traffic. BH has had to jump out of the way when one driver wouldn't stop, and I have many many times felt that I was risking verbal abuse or even a punch in the face for daring to think that I could attempt to intervene between a man (it's nearly always a man when the driver won't stop, sorry but it's true) and his vehicle.
Mind, more often we get lovely people who are full of smiles and clicking cameras, and tell us we have made their day. :)
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When a 17 year old boy out for a joy ride in Mothers car, with his mates, hit our car head on on the single track lane, the polce came and breathlised my husband, before the idiot who had hit us!! I cannot see the fact that it was sheep he hit and not a human, makes a difference ......it quite easily could have been a human.
We asked for horse riding warning triangles on our lane, as its well used by riders. The reply was that there needed to be a serious accident involving a horse and then signs could go up. So someone, and/or their horses needs to be killed before actions would be taken? Surely preventative action needs to be taken before this accident happens!!
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We asked for years for signs on the road where my cousin died and they only put them up a year after her funeral. We had put our own signs up on her land next to the road but we had to remove them via court order a week before the accident as the local council said they were unsightly and had complaints from the villagers. The same villagers have now joined the campaign to have these signs on all the local roads. Strange how people change there mind after lives are lost.
It can change but it takes something awful for people to actually happen before change happens.
I understand your loss but don't give up and fight for the signs before any other precious lives are lost don't be like me and actually loose focus on the things you love, it took me 18 years to get back on a horse and I now have a beautiful ex racehorse and I am brave enough to ride on the roads thanks to a great friend and her ever steady pony 'puzzle'.
The first time you move the sheep again you will be so worried why don't you try warning triangles, flags and brightly coloured cones to warn drivers there is something ahead and to take care.
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When a 17 year old boy out for a joy ride in Mothers car, with his mates, hit our car head on on the single track lane, the polce came and breathlised my husband, before the idiot who had hit us!! I cannot see the fact that it was sheep he hit and not a human, makes a difference ......it quite easily could have been a human.
We asked for horse riding warning triangles on our lane, as its well used by riders. The reply was that there needed to be a serious accident involving a horse and then signs could go up. So someone, and/or their horses needs to be killed before actions would be taken? Surely preventative action needs to be taken before this accident happens!!
We asked the same thing at our old place and were told that horses regularly going along the road didnt qualify as drivers should expect to meet those (hoho it was used as a rat run when the dual carriageway got busy or was blocked and was a single track bendy lane with high hedges and few exits), only if horses were crossing the road would they consider signs. Mad or what! Crossing the road is ok-ish as you can wait until you are fairly sure it's clear, but its going along where you are left with no option and are there for a lot longer that needs the signs!!
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Horrific!! I'm so sorry
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The first time you move the sheep again you will be so worried why don't you try warning triangles, flags and brightly coloured cones to warn drivers there is something ahead and to take care.
Absolutely right, we're both now full of trepidation when we have to move stock on the road, of course. But we have no choice, the farm spans a B road and a C road with land on all three sides. For now, we always have the car in front with flashing lights, but as there are effectively three roads sometimes we simply can't be in all the places drivers could be going too fast and not looking!
A neighbour works on the roads and is organising 'official' temporary road signs ('Warning - Livestock on road ahead') or some such for us - we'll put them out before moving the stock and remove them after the move is completed.
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How sad!! and anger provoking all at the same time. I'm really sorry, Sally :( poor sheep, poor you. Don't get me started on speeding cars (mainly rev-head teens) grrr.