Bullhead, Nicut (8/2/2009 3:09:20 PM)

My condolences. I hope this is a lesson learned by our young readers.

Serenity, Tulsa (8/2/2009 4:34:59 PM)

sad, a very young life cut. sometimes these youngsters will try everything just to have fun. sorry for his family and friends

Terree, Tulsa (8/2/2009 5:44:19 PM)

sorry for this young man and his family. and im sure his friend feels really bad...maybe others will learn from this...

Dwight Schrute, (8/2/2009 8:47:30 PM)

This wasn't an intoxicated individual. He was an employee of Tumbleweeds. It was a tragic accident that occured in the course of his employment. There was NO horseplay nor alcohol involved in this incident. Just wanted to make this clear.The previous comments made incorrect assumptions. From what I understand this was a good clean cut, hard working young man. Granted, information in this article was sketchy at best. I too send my condolences to the family.

2ndjoyce, BA (8/2/2009 8:55:26 PM)

I'm confused, DS. I don't see any comments about alcohol usage. The "lesson learned" was probably referring to the fact one should not ride on a tailgate.

My condolences to his family and friends as well.

Dwight Schrute, (8/2/2009 9:17:50 PM)

Well just putting it out there 2ndjoyce.. I think most people are aware of what Tumbleweeds is and what goes on there. Just wanted to clarify things. I wanted to make things clear that NO alcohol was involved in this so there wouldnt be any confusion or misunderstanding. Maybe I was confused by the comment about "having fun". How did you take that comment? I guess you can see why I wanted to clarify that.

yorkie_dude, Tulsa (8/2/2009 9:41:16 PM)

Just another example of the fragility of life

Mr. Left, Tulsa (8/2/2009 11:05:40 PM)

Not worth it!! Sorry for His Mother and Father!!

Sunshineinttown, (8/2/2009 11:26:07 PM)

Dwight-I am sorry for the loss of your friend. My condolences. This report (and others) state he was 20 yrs. old. You say he was an employee. Isn't it illegal to work at a bar in this state if you are under 21? At least I believe it is.

PAN, (8/3/2009 1:56:07 AM)

To: Dwight Schrute:
What does riding on a tailgate have to do with 'the course of his employment'? Was this man REQUIRED to do this; was this part of his job description? I'm not trying to be a smart alleck; I'm just trying to understand your comment. Also, I thought it was illegal to work in a bar if you are under the age of 21.

I am sorry for the family and friends of this young man.

susieq, broken arrow (8/3/2009 8:08:10 AM)

The young think they are undestructable - this proves they are not - sorry it had to be proven at the young man's life

T.B'Ville, Bartlesville (8/3/2009 8:28:32 AM)

Was he driving at an unsafe speed or what?
Sounds pretty innocent.
Sorry to all involved.

Dwight Schrute, (8/3/2009 8:38:55 AM)

Well first of all, Im not trying to argue about the merits of being in the back of a moving pickup. They were going from point A to point B on the property, not on a city street. At a speed of 10 mph. The point I was trying to make about this, without starting a great safety debate, was the fact this was a freak accident. He is not a friend of mine. Just know the circumstances and details. I just know in the TW comments how facts get twisted.He ,I was told, is a good clean cut, hard working young man, NOT the drunken punk that this type of thing usually happens too.They were on a concrete driveway and when the truck moved, he apparently wasnt ready, and fell backwards striking his head. This could happen in any driveway in anyones front yard.But it sounds like some of you have never or would never ride in the back of a moving pickup . If so, I guess you will never understand the point I was trying to make. I was only trying to say what a tragic accident it was. OK, now I am done with this. RIP young man! Prayers to the family

Penguin, Broken Arrow (8/3/2009 8:52:36 AM)

Yes, Pan & Sunshne - you have to be over the age of 21 to work in a bar. However, Tumbleweed is a 18+ dancehall / club. Therefore, the TW staff can be 18+ as well.

I was a former employee who appreciated everything the guys did around the TW arena.
I am so sorry to hear this - TW is a great place to work.

My prayers to his family / friends.

TheDudeAbides, Midtown Tulsa (8/3/2009 9:03:43 AM)

I'm still confused, the story says the "pickup started up an incline in the parking lot of Tumbleweeds Bar near Stillwater and Foster fell off". Did he get run over after he fell off? Was he riding on the tailgate of a monster truck? How did falling from a tailgate result in death? Considering they were in a parking lot I wouldn't think they could be going all that fast...

Dwight Schrute, (8/3/2009 9:11:20 AM)

Ok, this will be my last comment here, because of the confusion to the story. No, he was not run over. He lost his balance and fell. Unfortunately, he landed on his head. This is how the fall from the tailgate led to his death. If he would have landed on any other body part, he would have gotten up and brushed himself off and went back to work. And yes, this was in slow speed.No monster truck, a common every day pickup.

HarleyRyder55, Tulsa (8/3/2009 9:15:51 AM)

If I were to guess, I'd say he probably fell forward out of back of the truck and landed on his head. Even a fall like that for a short distance at low speed could have devastating results.

stacy010101, (8/3/2009 11:16:12 AM)

I think a lot of the readers of this article are being highly insensitive. I actually knew Ted and he was not a reckless man. He was nice, caring and most certainly nobody's "lesson to be learned". It was an accident, and sometimes these happen.

In the future I would like to ask that the readers of this article refrain from making a lesson out of an accident, and to please be a little more sensitive to the family and friends who might read this article.

tulsandn, out in the woods (8/3/2009 11:20:11 AM)

I've jumped off a truck going slow up a hill, I landed wrong & had the skin shredded off my hand & arm....I was at work, I wasn't out "having fun"....

Very easy to die or hurt yourself badly falling off a moving vehicle even at slow speeds....

RIP young man....

2ndjoyce, BA (8/3/2009 11:27:20 AM)

stacy010101, I think the lesson learned referred to by many here was meant for others who might not realize how dangerous riding on a tailgate could be. This young man's death is a reminder of how fragile life is and how a moment seen as fun could really be a terrible choice which could end a life.

That being said, life is full of risks every day. People die in automobile accidents every day. But the risk is what needs to be considered. I am so sorry for this freakish accident which ended a young life.

Dwight Schrute, (8/3/2009 11:36:50 AM)

2ndjoyce have you read a ONE of my comments. The young man was NOT having fun. He was working! This was an a tragic accident. Why can you not accept this. He was not on some foolish, drunken joyride.Sorry about the loss of your friend stacy.

2ndjoyce, BA (8/3/2009 11:42:03 AM)

I'm talking about others who might THINK it sounds like fun to ride on a tailgate, Dwight. I never said he was on some foolish, drunken joyride.

Tulsaace, (8/3/2009 11:59:50 AM)

If the young person was working...everyone know first safety violation is riding in the back of a pickup truck with you legs hanging off the tailgate...or standing while riding, or leaving the tailgate down...def. I believe this could have been prevented with some additional safety pre-cautions.

Joe5, Bixby (8/3/2009 1:06:00 PM)

Growing up on a farm, we often rode in the bed of a PU or sometimes on the tailgate depending upon the circumstances. If your picking up hay bails and loading them onto the truck, the frequent stops and requirement to quickly egress the vehicle, is part of the job. Riding on the tailgate instead of walking all that distance in a big field is a must on a 100 degree temp. day.
Any fall can be dangerous, even if your walking. I know a person who bumped their head in the shower, started having mild headaches. The Doc. said she would have died if she had not gotten medical attention.
I'm not a doc. but I know that there are some very thin areas of the head that with even a slight impact can subject the brain to trauma with very little effort. This can result in bleeding and death if medical attention is not rendered.
There are always going to be safety advocates who will point fingers. I guess if you stay in bed all day and never get up, you "might" have a safe day. But eventually you have to get up so there's a catch to everything. People, this was a accident. Lets move on.

Dwight Schrute, (8/3/2009 1:51:54 PM)

Amen Joe !