Segway chief dies in cliff plunge

[SurfaceUnits]

Jimi Heselden, the owner of Segway, has died after riding one of the scooters off a cliff and into a river, according to reports.

According to the BBC, Heselden, 61, died yesterday after crashing into the River Wharfe. The incident took place on his West Yorkshire estate and has thus far been deemed an accident. Segways are not legal to use on British roads and are restricted to use on private property.

Heselden, who had already been an investor in the U.K. Segway dealership, bought the company at the end of 2009. The devices were launched in 2001 by inventor Dean Kamen, eliciting claims of revolutionizing transport at the time but ultimately failing to catch on beyond a niche base of tour groups and the wealthy.



Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-20017681-92.html?tag=rtcol;pop#ixzz111uufQUK

[RaceGrrl]

I saw that news story and the only thing I could think of was the Monty Python skit where a criminal is chased off a cliff by a bunch of topless women. I'm not going to link it here, you'll have to find the video yourself. :)

[TrueBrit]

I saw that news story and the only thing I could think of was the Monty Python skit where a criminal is chased off a cliff by a bunch of topless women. I'm not going to link it here, you'll have to find the video yourself. :)

Every time I read this story I start laughing because I'm thinking the same exact thing...it's horrible I know, by all accounts he was quite the decent bloke..but there's just something about flying off the edge of a cliff on a Segway that makes me giggle like an idiot...

[cameraman]

Yeah, I felt like an ass when I laughed as I read the story.

[TravelGal]

Yeah, I felt like an ass when I laughed as I read the story.

Yeah, me too.

[dando]

I saw that news story and the only thing I could think of was the Monty Python skit where a criminal is chased off a cliff by a bunch of topless women. I'm not going to link it here, you'll have to find the video yourself. :)

The Meaning of Life. :thumbup: So much goodness in that flick. :D

-Kevin

[TrueBrit]

The Meaning of Life. :thumbup: So much goodness in that flick. :D

-Kevin

...."and finally Monsieur a wafer-thin mint?"...

[dando]

...."and finally Monsieur a wafer-thin mint?"...

Englishmen, you're all so ****ing pompous. None of you have got any balls.

Shut up, you American. You Americans, all you do is talk, and talk, and say "let me tell you something" and "I just wanna say." Well, you're dead now, so shut up.

;) :p

-Kevin

[nrc]

...."and finally Monsieur a wafer-thin mint?"...

"Oh, it's only waafer thin."

[RaceGrrl]

"Well.... all right....."

"Bon. Appetit."

[Methanolandbrats]

Every time I read this story I start laughing because I'm thinking the same exact thing...it's horrible I know, by all accounts he was quite the decent bloke..but there's just something about flying off the edge of a cliff on a Segway that makes me giggle like an idiot...

Ya, I laughed too. It's sad, but can you just see that thing pitching off the cliff with him standing on it. The irony is the thing was supposed to keep the rider from falling :D

[High Sided]

it was a new atv proto-type

http://www.newsy.com/videos/segway-owner-dies-in-segway-crash/?gclid=COzx6eOqs6QCFR7X5wodn1ij0g

[G.]

Ya, I laughed too. It's sad, but can you just see that thing pitching off the cliff with him standing on it. The irony is the thing was supposed to keep the rider from falling :DI wonder if it kept him upright all the way to the ground...

[TravelGal]

I wonder if it kept him upright all the way to the ground...

What a "straight" line. Badda bing.

[Methanolandbrats]

I wonder if it kept him upright all the way to the ground...

The bottom is pretty heavy, so ya, it would be like riding a lawn dart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcW_Ygs6hm0