Use jackstands, Dammit!!

A Seminole County boy was severely injured and later died Sunday after the vehicle his father was repairing slipped off a jack and fell on top of the child, according to the Seminole County Sheriff's Office.

Liam Dorst, 5, was pronounced dead at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children several hours after he was pinned beneath the vehicle in the 1200 block of Mullet Lake Park Road in Geneva about 12 p.m., said Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Kim Cannaday.

The father, 36-year-old Robert Dorst, told deputies he son was playing while he was working on the vehicle when it either rolled or slid off the support.

Deputies are investigating but have said they think the incident was a "tragic accident," Cannaday said.

I cannot conceive of how the father feels at this point.

That's enough to make you sick. What a shame.

My 8yo was helping me change pads, rotors, and bearing on my work van today. I took the time to explain to him the importance of jack stands when working under a car.

Jacks stands are cheap. Use them.

who wants to bet it was the stock jack that came with the car too?

Oh, man. That's terrible.

Had a friend in high school die when his Monte Carlo slipped off the jack and a log. Crushed him to death. Great guy, really talented guitarist. Was a really sad day.

After that I vowed to always use stands.

I use stands and fit spare wheels/tires under the car just in case. An old jamaican guy taught me that. He said almost no one in jamaica has jack stands, so they drop their cars on the wheels that they remove to do work.

I hate these stories

Oh my God. That would be a hell of a thing to live with.

I have taught both my kids to use jack stands, and to give the care a good shake before you work on it. Even when I'm in a hurry, I use jack stands.

With the rusted cars I drive, I have to use several jack stands and the wheel method mentioned above.
I had a car roll on me in college and I'll never forget that experience.

Taiden wrote: I use stands and fit spare wheels/tires under the car just in case. An old jamaican guy taught me that. He said almost no one in jamaica has jack stands, so they drop their cars on the wheels that they remove to do work.

Thank you. I was just going to say that. There isn't a one of us reading this forum who doesn't have a set or two of tires sitting around. Jack the car up, put it on jack stands, and pile tires underneath. It takes more time, but you'll never regret having done so.

In reply to JoeyM and Taiden:

QFT!!

I had a friend try to stop me from doing this while working on his car. He said "Dude, you're scuffing up the lip and back side of my rim, WTF are you doing?" My response, "Apparently not working on your car"

I grabbed my tools and left.

Sometimes even jack stands aren't good enough since some cars are a bitch to get on them. After a couple of scary "almost" incidents when lifting MINI's, justifying $1600 for my lift got a lot easier...

Not sure what I'd do in that situation. Gutting.

I'm all for teaching my kids how to fix thing and help out, but I also know when they need to be kept at a distance.

And, is there actually a place called Mullet Lake Park in Florida?

In reply to Woody:

Google Maps says yes.

Tragic.

Terrible news. I recently had to explain to a friend how putting a heavy load onto the sides of cinderblocks was and extremely bad idea. He was unconvinced until I kicked one into pieces. At least put the load on the end the way they were designed!

I always keep some rail road tie cutouts sitting around for a fail safe. (In case of a Jack stand failure.)

JoeyM wrote:

Taiden wrote: I use stands and fit spare wheels/tires under the car just in case. An old jamaican guy taught me that. He said almost no one in jamaica has jack stands, so they drop their cars on the wheels that they remove to do work.

Thank you. I was just going to say that. There isn't a one of us reading this forum who doesn't have a set or two of tires sitting around. Jack the car up, put it on jack stands, and pile tires underneath. It takes more time, but you'll never regret having done so.

I was going to mention that too. I was working on a friend's truck on the street in front of my house on jackstands. I left to get some parts and use a press at work ('96 Ranger ball joints SUCK!) and came back to find the truck flat on the ground. It was a hot summer day and the asphalt got soft, and one of the jackstands must have sunk into the road enough to tip it to the side and collapse. I always put the wheels under them now.

I normally have to jack up a vehicle right where I put my jackstand(s) due to vehicle height. So after I have the jackstand in place, I wheel my jack around to the middle of the vehicle or behind where I am working and raise it into contact with the frame. JIC, if one fails, I have a backup. Plus I don't use those cheap 3ton stands. I have a few sets of the 6tons to set a vehicle on.

Anyone have suggestions on good, reasonably priced stands? I might spring for some this christmas.

Taiden wrote: Anyone have suggestions on good, reasonably priced stands? I might spring for some this christmas.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00950159000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

Taiden wrote: Anyone have suggestions on good, reasonably priced stands? I might spring for some this christmas.

http://www.harborfreight.com/6-ton-jack-stand-set-38847.html

I have a set of these and the red Torin versions in my workspace.

Does anyone make flat top jack stands?

Taiden wrote: I use stands and fit spare wheels/tires under the car just in case. An old jamaican guy taught me that. He said almost no one in jamaica has jack stands, so they drop their cars on the wheels that they remove to do work.

This.

It's easier to remove an extra stand and/or tire that wasn't needed than remove someone after a fall from not having enough.

Ian F wrote: Sometimes even jack stands aren't good enough since some cars are a bitch to get on them. After a couple of scary "almost" incidents when lifting MINI's, justifying $1600 for my lift got a lot easier...

This. Our MINI scares me silly trying to get it up on stands. It's so damn small that the angles to get it on stands are hair-raising. Odd that it is so much more frightening than the 3 ton Impala I had....

I hate hearing stories like this, but it seems any long time mechanic has lost a friend or acquaintance that way. I always have 2 stands and a jack under anything, especially since I'm almost always alone while working.

Although I will now be using the tire trick too.

Taiden wrote: I use stands and fit spare wheels/tires under the car just in case. An old jamaican guy taught me that. He said almost no one in jamaica has jack stands, so they drop their cars on the wheels that they remove to do work.

Was just gonna say that. Always lay the wheel under the edge of the car. That way if it falls on you, you'll have a wrecked wheel but you'll probably live. I wouldn't go under a car held up with only jacks anyways, but it's a good practice.