# Pedestrian hit by car... where is his leg? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 24, 2011, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pedestrian-hit-by-car-where-is-his-leg/586725 "2011-06-24T16:47:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pedestrian-hit-by-car-where-is-his-leg/586725/21 "2011-06-24T21:28:09Z")
[QUOTE=rachelellogram] I’m going to wager a guess the speed of the vehicle was officially waytoofuckingfast MPH. [/QUOTE] Ludicrous speed. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pedestrian-hit-by-car-where-is-his-leg/586725/22 "2011-06-25T01:39:20Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > I once shod a man in Reno just to watch it fly. You owe me a new keyboard. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pedestrian-hit-by-car-where-is-his-leg/586725/23 "2011-06-25T01:52:10Z")
“Pedestrian hit by car… where is his leg?” That was always my least favorite page in Highlights For Children magazine. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pedestrian-hit-by-car-where-is-his-leg/586725/24 "2011-06-25T10:46:39Z")
Could be materiel for an adult version of **Where’s Wally/Waldo?**. > [@rachelellogram](#): > > I’m going to wager a guess the speed of the vehicle was officially waytoofuckingfast MPH. Well, the corpse still has one leg left, so an empirical test isn’t entirely out of the question. (I really hope I do not suffer a gruesome death, but if I am it would be a very small comfort to me if there is some humour involved.) ---
**Author:** ![nonacetone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonacetone/32/2819_2.png) [@nonacetone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonacetone)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pedestrian-hit-by-car-where-is-his-leg/586725/25 "2011-06-25T12:42:38Z")
My husband just told me that if the victim had lived, he wouldn’t have a leg to stand on. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pedestrian-hit-by-car-where-is-his-leg/586725/26 "2011-06-25T16:03:27Z")
> [@nonacetone](#): > > My husband just told me that if the victim had lived, he wouldn’t have a leg to stand on. And he would have had to go work at IHOP. ---
**Author:** ![St.Urho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@St.Urho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Urho)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pedestrian-hit-by-car-where-is-his-leg/586725/27 "2011-06-25T16:37:42Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > Depends upon the state. In Washington, 'medics can declare. many other states, they can’t. Arizona is ahead of the pack in many fire/rescue laws so they may allow it. Even in states where paramedics can pronounce, as a practical matter they may not pronounce en route to the hospital. If I pronounce in the ambulance, the ambulance is out of service until the Medical Examiner can investigate and take possession of the body. Obviously, other states may vary (I’m in Colorado) but there’s really no mechanism for a pronouncement somewhere between the scene and the hospital. St. Urho Paramedic ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pedestrian-hit-by-car-where-is-his-leg/586725/28 "2011-06-25T16:39:06Z")
> [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](#): > > How fast does the car have to be going to tear a person’s leg off and send it hurtling onto the roof of a building 160 feet away? Way too fucking fast, indeed. But my bet is that either the guy who did the hit then running came back, found the leg, panicked and had roof access, or a couple of teenagers found a grisly trophy. I just can’t fathom the physics involved if the leg went directly from impact to rooftop, nor can the former Arizona paramedic sitting next to me. ---
**Author:** ![xinuxunil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/5f9b8f/32.png) [@xinuxunil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xinuxunil)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pedestrian-hit-by-car-where-is-his-leg/586725/29 "2011-06-26T02:51:52Z")
So, if I understand this correctly, if they had buried him without finding the other leg, he would have had one leg in the grave? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pedestrian-hit-by-car-where-is-his-leg/586725/30 "2011-06-26T02:59:02Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Way too fucking fast, indeed. But my bet is that either the guy who did the hit then running came back, found the leg, panicked and had roof access, or a couple of teenagers found a grisly trophy. > > I just can’t fathom the physics involved if the leg went directly from impact to rooftop, nor can the former Arizona paramedic sitting next to me. When I was hit, the truck was doing 65, my leg took the full impact of the wheel fender and merely(ha!) removed some muscle tissue and skin and broke the femur. My cycling shoe was torn off and found about 40 ft. away. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pedestrian-hit-by-car-where-is-his-leg/586725/31 "2011-06-26T04:37:51Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > When I was hit, the truck was doing 65, my leg took the full impact of the wheel fender and merely(ha!) removed some muscle tissue and skin and broke the femur. > My cycling shoe was torn off and found about 40 ft. away. Sure, that I can believe. 40 ft away on the ground? Yep, no problem. But 160 feet away and up on a roof? I’m not saying it’s impossible, I’m just thinking Occam might have some other more likely explanations… ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pedestrian-hit-by-car-where-is-his-leg/586725/32 "2011-06-26T05:09:23Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Sure, that I can believe. 40 ft away on the ground? Yep, no problem. But 160 feet away and up on a roof? I’m not saying it’s impossible, I’m just thinking Occam might have some other more likely explanations… I’d guess scavengers would be the obvious other explanation, presumably carrying the leg off and then getting scared off by something before it could eat it. Its kinda hard to think of what kind of animal is big enough to carry off a whole leg but could also small/nimble enough to get up on a roof. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pedestrian-hit-by-car-where-is-his-leg/586725/33 "2011-06-26T11:52:15Z")
I’m sitting here trying to think up a clever way to tie in to **carol nistri’s** cattle mute thread, but it’s 4:30 in the morning and I’m not tapping into the clever. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pedestrian-hit-by-car-where-is-his-leg/586725/34 "2011-06-26T12:40:37Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > I’d guess scavengers would be the obvious other explanation, presumably carrying the leg off and then getting scared off by something before it could eat it. Its kinda hard to think of what kind of animal is big enough to carry off a whole leg but could also small/nimble enough to get up on a roof. The only animal I can think of is a human. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pedestrian-hit-by-car-where-is-his-leg/586725/35 "2011-06-27T06:12:15Z")
> [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](#): > > The only animal I can think of is a human. Proving, once again, that the most dangerous animal IS… the zookeeper! ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pedestrian-hit-by-car-where-is-his-leg/586725/36 "2011-06-27T07:26:58Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > Proving, once again, that the most dangerous animal IS… the zookeeper! I just need you to know that I’m adding you to my watchlist. Your drawing killed me. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pedestrian-hit-by-car-where-is-his-leg/586725/37 "2011-06-27T07:31:55Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > When I was hit, the truck was doing 65, my leg took the full impact of the wheel fender and merely(ha!) removed some muscle tissue and skin and broke the femur. > My cycling shoe was torn off and found about 40 ft. away. Holy crap! ☹ I didn’t know about this. I work with a woman who was hit by a truck while cycling and it messed her up pretty good. She went over the hood. She was lucky; she’s still walking and mountain biking (doesn’t road bike anymore). I sympathize with you. I think it about these things every time I get on my bike to ride to work. I’m so sorry, **pat**. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pedestrian-hit-by-car-where-is-his-leg/586725/38 "2011-06-27T07:51:17Z")
Are you trying to tell me that legs migrate? ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pedestrian-hit-by-car-where-is-his-leg/586725/39 "2011-06-27T13:35:59Z")
> [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](#): > > I just need you to know that I’m adding you to my watchlist. Your drawing killed me. 😃 \<3 I was thinking about starting a mspaint thread here. I used to lurk somethingawful a lot, and I really miss those threads. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pedestrian-hit-by-car-where-is-his-leg/586725/40 "2011-06-27T14:49:00Z")
Maybe it had restless leg syndrome. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pedestrian-hit-by-car-where-is-his-leg/586725.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pedestrian-hit-by-car-where-is-his-leg/586725.md?page=3)