Ummm...stupid question: if it went out of control, what prevented him from just jumping off? Is the rider strapped in or attached in some way?
No. And it is not a stupid question. The rider is not strapped in or attached in any way to the Segway vehicle; therefore, the rider should have been able to jump free before it went off the cliff. That is why, while they are treating it as an accidental malfunction of the machine, some people are questioning whether or not it was actually a suicide.
But, whether an accident or a suicide, my heartfelt condolences go out to the man's family and friends.
Just two more comments on Segways, and I'll quit.
I know a tour guide in Washington, D.C., who use to give Segway tours of the city, but he quit his job as a Segway tour guide, because of all the problems the tourists were having with the Segway.
And when the Segway first came out, it was thought to be the urban transportation of the future, taking the place of the automobile. Obviously, that didn't happen, and this story makes it even less likely it'll happen.
Again, my condolences to the man's friends and family.