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Old 09-27-2010, 12:45 PM   #1 (permalink)
EthanK
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 52
Segway owner killed by segway.

I think we all know what really happened.

Quote:
The multi-millionaire owner of the Segway company died in a freak accident yesterday when he rode one of the high-tech two-wheel machines off a cliff and into a river.
Former miner Jimi Heselden, 62, plunged into the River Wharfe while riding around his West Yorkshire estate in Boston Spa on a rugged country version of the Segway.
He bought the firm last December and was using one of the machines - which use gyroscopes to remain upright and are controlled by the direction in which the rider leans - to inspect the grounds of his property.

Jimi Heselden, the multi-millionaire owner of the Segway company, died in a freak accident when he rode one of the high-tech two-wheel machines off a cliff and into a river
A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said today: 'Police were called at 11.40am yesterday to reports of a man in the River Wharfe, apparently having fallen from the cliffs above.
'A Segway-style vehicle was recovered. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
'At this time we do not believe the death to be suspicious.'

The scene: Mr Heselden died after his Segway plunged 30ft from a rocky path and into Jackdaw Crag, located on the River Wharfe, West Yorkshire
Invesitgators are probing whether there was a fault with his particular machine or it was driver error.
His death comes just a week after he became one of the UK's most generous philanthropists, having given away £10million to a charity foundation he set up in 2008. He had previously given £13million to the same organisation.
Mr Heselden was worth £166million and ranked 395th on the Sunday Times Rich List - above X Factor boss Simon Cowell - thanks to his defence company Hesco Bastion.

Accident: The millionaire philanthropist was riding a rugged country version of the Segway, like this X2 Adventure model, when he went over a cliff and into a river

This map of Boston Spa shows where Mr Heselden was found
In a statement today Hesco Bastion said: 'It is with great sadness that we have to confirm that Jimi Heselden OBE has died in a tragic accident near his home in West Yorkshire.
'Jimi was chairman of Hesco Bastion Ltd, the world leading manufacturer of protective barriers, and owner of Segway Inc.
Read more: Segway owner Jimi Heselden dies after riding one of his machines off cliff | Mail Online
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