# Segway company owner dies after driving Segway off of cliff **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 27, 2010, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/segway-company-owner-dies-after-driving-segway-off-of-cliff/555215 "2010-09-27T14:26:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/segway-company-owner-dies-after-driving-segway-off-of-cliff/555215/1 "2010-09-27T14:26:26Z")
[Story Here.](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2010/09/27/2010-09-27_segway_company_owner_jimi_heselden_dies_in_england_after_riding_a_segway_off_cli.html) So, if you were planning on having the most ironic death this year, you might want to consider rescheduling for next year because this guy has it all wrapped up. ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/segway-company-owner-dies-after-driving-segway-off-of-cliff/555215/2 "2010-09-27T14:32:08Z")
Apparently it was the “off-road” model he was testing… guess it’s back to the ol’ drawing board for that one. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/segway-company-owner-dies-after-driving-segway-off-of-cliff/555215/3 "2010-09-27T14:43:36Z")
No. Or, I guess more appropriately, nooooooooooooooooooooooo! ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/segway-company-owner-dies-after-driving-segway-off-of-cliff/555215/4 "2010-09-27T14:44:26Z")
I’ve ridden (driven?) one of the off-road models - we went on a nature tour down in Florida. It was awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/segway-company-owner-dies-after-driving-segway-off-of-cliff/555215/5 "2010-09-27T14:49:52Z")
I took a Segway tour in the Garden of the Gods in the Colorado Rockies last month. It was great but I can see how you can get hurt on one. No one in our group fell off or drove off a cliff but the guide said about 10% of the people he takes have some sort of accident. Of course, most of these people are new to a Segway unlike this case but he was probably trying to push the limits of the model he was on and it is probably possible for one to malfunction. They don’t have normal controls and come pretty close to reading your mind through subtle weight shifts. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/segway-company-owner-dies-after-driving-segway-off-of-cliff/555215/6 "2010-09-27T14:52:15Z")
Looks like he’s made the ultimate segue. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/segway-company-owner-dies-after-driving-segway-off-of-cliff/555215/7 "2010-09-27T14:54:59Z")
Here’s a picture of [Mr. Heselden](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/8027301/Segway-company-owner-dies-riding-two-wheeled-machine-off-cliff.html) alongside what, apparently, he thought his Segway was comparable to. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/segway-company-owner-dies-after-driving-segway-off-of-cliff/555215/8 "2010-09-27T15:12:51Z")
Seriously sad news. These products are the result of genuine genius. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/segway-company-owner-dies-after-driving-segway-off-of-cliff/555215/9 "2010-09-27T15:17:09Z")
I thought this thread title was a joke, and am not sure how I would describe my reaction to finding it was real without seeming cruel. Briefly saddened, but overall amused? Edit: > [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > Looks like he’s made the ultimate segue. On second thought, I don’t feel so bad. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/segway-company-owner-dies-after-driving-segway-off-of-cliff/555215/10 "2010-09-27T15:24:15Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Seriously sad news. These products are the result of genuine genius. The poor gentleman didn’t invent the Segway, he just bought the company. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/segway-company-owner-dies-after-driving-segway-off-of-cliff/555215/11 "2010-09-27T15:36:51Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > > [@Chefguy](#): > > > > Seriously sad news. These products are the result of genuine genius. > > The poor gentleman didn’t invent the Segway, he just bought the company. He was the [Sy Greenblum](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XbCWmY0eqY)of Segweys. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/segway-company-owner-dies-after-driving-segway-off-of-cliff/555215/12 "2010-09-27T15:38:41Z")
Oh my. I’ve heard the Mercedes Segway will stop you BEFORE you run off the cliff. ---
**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:** [September 27, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/segway-company-owner-dies-after-driving-segway-off-of-cliff/555215/13 "2010-09-27T15:47:43Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > Looks like he’s made the ultimate segue. Sir, your handbasket is ready. Do you prefer boiling pitch or the brimstone? ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/segway-company-owner-dies-after-driving-segway-off-of-cliff/555215/14 "2010-09-27T15:49:33Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > The poor gentleman didn’t invent the Segway, he just bought the company. See, it could have been worse… he could have ridden a shaver off the cliff. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/segway-company-owner-dies-after-driving-segway-off-of-cliff/555215/15 "2010-09-27T16:03:10Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > > [@RickJay](#): > > > > The poor gentleman didn’t invent the Segway, he just bought the company. > > See, it could have been worse… he could have ridden a shaver off the cliff. More likely into a snow bank.😛 ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/segway-company-owner-dies-after-driving-segway-off-of-cliff/555215/16 "2010-09-27T16:09:04Z")
> [@](#): > > More likely into a snow bank. Santa rode that Noelco\* two-headed (later three-headed) shaver over a gap and safely onto more snow without crashing into a snow bank for _years_ during commercial breaks in _Rudolph_. \*actually _Norelco_. But “even our name says Merry Christmas” ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/segway-company-owner-dies-after-driving-segway-off-of-cliff/555215/17 "2010-09-27T17:15:33Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > > [@Chefguy](#): > > > > Seriously sad news. These products are the result of genuine genius. > > The poor gentleman didn’t invent the Segway, he just bought the company. Oh, well then. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/segway-company-owner-dies-after-driving-segway-off-of-cliff/555215/18 "2010-09-27T17:26:23Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Seriously sad news. These products are the result of genuine genius. The genius who invented the thing is Dean Kamen. Heselden was a rich defense contractor who bought out the company. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/segway-company-owner-dies-after-driving-segway-off-of-cliff/555215/19 "2010-09-27T17:26:43Z")
Hi! I’m not just an owner of a Segway, I’m the presidAAAAIIIIEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee [sub]eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!![/sub] Hypno-Toad, got some room in that handbasket? ---
**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:** [September 27, 2010, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/segway-company-owner-dies-after-driving-segway-off-of-cliff/555215/20 "2010-09-27T18:17:51Z")
I hace an image of him driving into airspace, smiling, then looking down and then falling. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/segway-company-owner-dies-after-driving-segway-off-of-cliff/555215.md?page=2)