In what was described as an “amazing” display of strength, two teenage girls, 16 and 14, responded to their dad’s screams and quickly lifted the 1-1/2 ton tractor that was pinning him to the ground.
The man, Jeff Smith of Lebanon, Ore., was using the tractor to yank a stump when it overturned and trapped him, pinning his chest to the ground, CNN reported. His two daughters — Hannah, 16, and Haylee, 14 — heard his cries and ran to help. Without even thinking, they lifted the tractor enough to give him room to breathe, before running to find more help, CNN said. A neighbor then responded and helped dig the dad out completely, the report stated.
“It’s amazing. You hear about this kind of stuff — this adrenaline rush, being able to pick cars up and slide people out. You never realize it’s really there until you actually witness it,” said Mr. Smith, in an interview with NBC, adding the tractor weighs about 3,000 pounds.
Adding to the mystique of the story is the fact the girls weren’t even supposed to be at the home at the time of incident.
“We were supposed to go to a friend’s house,” one of the daughters said, CNN reported. “I don’t know why we didn’t.”
The family has since named the tractor “Satan,” CNN reported.
The father has been treated for a broken wrist, but is otherwise recovering well, various media reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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