Owner of Segway Company Dies Riding a Segway

[mrzrich]

Ok, the owner of the company can't control the vehicle, but theme parks should allow people to ride them around crowded parks?

September 27, 2010, 4:10 PM
Segway Owner Dies in Segway Crash
By STEPHEN WILLIAMS

Call it irony, fate, or simply an accident: in Britain, the owner of Segway died over the weekend when he apparently drove one of the devices off a cliff near his home, The Associated Press reported.


Reuters

In West Yorkshire, police reported that James W. Heselden, 62, who took over control of the company earlier this year, accidentally steered the Segway off a 30-foot cliff and into a river while riding on his estate, about 140 miles from London. The exact cause of death is not yet established, the police said.

The Segway Human Transporter came to market in 2002 as the invention of Dean Kamen, an entrepreneur from New Hampshire who made his fortune after he created the first insulin pump for treatment of diabetes. At the time, Mr. Kamen said that the Segway would have an impact on society similar to that of the personal computer.

The person-mover, priced at about $5,000, uses sophisticated gyroscopic technology as well as electronics and some software controls.

The rider essentially steers one by leaning fore and aft, and aiming to the left or right by pulling the handlebars; the company calls this “LeanSteer” technology. The Segway’s top speed is about 12 miles per hour, the company says.

In Britain, the Segway cannot be piloted on public roads or paths but only on private property. But they are legal in several European countries. In the United States, Segways are approved for limited use in many states, The Telegraph reports.

Celebrities, including Jackie Chan, adopted the Segway as an alternative transportation device for a time, although the Segway image took a hit in 2003 when President George W. Bush fell off of one.

 

[wishspirit]

I feel for his family at this time.

He did some amazing things.

 

[grimley1968]

Ok, the owner of the company can't control the vehicle, but theme parks should allow people to ride them around crowded parks?

Not too many 30-foot cliffs at Disneyworld.

But I will agree with previous poster that the guy did a lot for others in his life. He should be commended.

 

[JimmyV]

The person who died is not the person whi invented it. Doesn't make it any less tragic, but don't be confused in thinking that Dean Kamen was the person who died.

 

[grimley1968]

The person who died is not the person whi invented it. Doesn't make it any less tragic, but don't be confused in thinking that Dean Kamen was the person who died.

I don't know that anyone is confusing anyone in the story. It is clearly stated in the quoted article that the owner bought the company from Kamen.

I was referring to charitable work the guy did throughout his life, as well as his obvious business acumen.

 

[Justin Jett]

Ok, the owner of the company can't control the vehicle, but theme parks should allow people to ride them around crowded parks?

 

[JimmyV]

I don't know that anyone is confusing anyone in the story. It is clearly stated in the quoted article that the owner bought the company from Kamen.

I was referring to charitable work the guy did throughout his life, as well as his obvious business acumen.

Wasn't directing this at you, per se. I have seen numerous posts on other sites that mourn the fact that the "guy who invented all those medical breakthrough products" had died. The news that Kamen sold the company is not necessarily well-known. Just cutting off the confusion before it starts.

 

[grimley1968]

Ok, the owner of the company can't control the vehicle, but theme parks should allow people to ride them around crowded parks?

Besides the fact that there are no 30 foot cliffs in WDW, I forgot to mention that no guests are riding Segways around "crowded parks." The Segway Tour is strictly controlled, and only operates in the World Showcase section of EPCOT, and at a time when that section of EPCOT is closed (before 11 AM).

Other than that I have seen an occasional CM riding one, but never in an unsafe way.

If the owner of the company had ridden a motorcycle, a car, a bicycle, or just fallen off a 30-foot cliff, I think the result most likely would have been the same.

 

[mrzrich]

Besides the fact that there are no 30 foot cliffs in WDW, I forgot to mention that no guests are riding Segways around "crowded parks." The Segway Tour is strictly controlled, and only operates in the World Showcase section of EPCOT, and at a time when that section of EPCOT is closed (before 11 AM).

Other than that I have seen an occasional CM riding one, but never in an unsafe way.

If the owner of the company had ridden a motorcycle, a car, a bicycle, or just fallen off a 30-foot cliff, I think the result most likely would have been the same.

I'm not talking about the Segway Tour. I'm talking about the people who wanted to sue because Disney wouldn't let them use their Segways to get around in the parks. They don't let people travel from IASW to POTC by motorcycle, bike or car either.

 

[Joshua_me]

He was a kind and quite philanthropic man who dearly loved the concept of the Segway.

Unfortunately that love went over the edge.

 

[drakethib]

Ok, the owner of the company can't control the vehicle, but theme parks should allow people to ride them around crowded parks?

Perhaps we should have all of the Disney buses grounded using that logic.