ELLSWORTH (AP) — It probably sounded like a good idea in those early-morning hours — sit on a couch with two buddies while another friend in a pickup truck tows the couch through a cow pasture.

Pierce County authorities were still trying Sunday evening to piece together the events of that morning. What was clear was that the three couch-bound men were taken to hospitals around 1:30 a.m. Sunday with undisclosed injuries.

The Chevrolet truck was being driving by Joseph M. Schoeder, 23, of Beldenville, the sheriff’s department said in a news release.

The three men on the couch were Bradley J. Johnson, 24, of Ellsworth; Timothy J. Flynn, 21, from Welch, Minn.; and Cole T. Eckhoff, 21, from Red Wing, Minn.

Johnson was flown by helicopter to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, where he was in critical condition Sunday.

Flynn and Eckhoff were treated and released from Fairview Hospital in Red Wing.

URL: http://www.leadertelegram.com/story.asp?id=82597

More Information:

Pierce County, Wis. / Couch-pulling fishing opener rite goes bad

One man in serious condition; authorities unsure whether drinking was involved

BY KEVIN HARTER

Pioneer Press TwinCities.com-Pioneer Press

Article Last Updated:05/07/2007 10:05:20 PM CDT

As Wisconsin annual fishing opener rituals go, this one was a doozy and it nearly turned deadly.

One man remained hospitalized in serious condition Monday after being thrown, along with two other men, from a couch they were riding on.

The couch was being pulled through a cow pasture by a pickup truck.

"They apparently do this every year. It's kind of their fishing season opening weekend ritual," Pierce County Sheriff Nancy Howe said Monday.

In the land of cow tipping, this is a new twist on bad - and dangerous - barnyard behavior.

"We have a few problems from time to time," Howe said of the antics some people get into during the annual fishing opener. "But nothing to this extent."

Pierce County sheriff's deputies were called to 620th Street in rural Pierce County about 1:32 a.m. Sunday, which was a short time after four men left their weekend campsite along a Hartland Township creek for the annual couch pull, Howe said.

Joseph Schoeder, 21, of Beldenville, was behind the wheel of a Chevrolet pickup, towing three men on a couch across a farmer's field.

Timothy Flynn, 21, of Welch, Minn.; Cole Eckhoff, 21, of Red Wing, Minn.; and Bradley Johnson, 24, of Ellsworth, Wis., were thrown from the couch when it flipped.

Johnson was flown by helicopter to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, where he was admitted in critical condition. On Monday, he was listed in serious condition, according to a hospital spokesman.

Eckhoff and Flynn, who were taken to Red Wing's Fairview Medical Center by friends, were treated and released for their injuries, according to the sheriff.

Eckhoff, Flynn and Schoeder could not be reached for comment.

The incident remained under investigation Monday, and the sheriff said she could not yet say whether drinking was involved, if any laws were broken or where the group got the couch.

What is clear, officials said, is that it was a silly stunt reminiscent of the MTV grossout show "Jackass" - and this one had gone very bad.

"It's all fun and games until someone gets badly hurt," Howe said.

Kevin Harter can be reached at kharter@pioneerpress.com or 800-950-9080 ext. 2149.

URL: http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_5841580?nclick_check=1

Still More Information:

A couch, a truck, a pasture and three men don't mix

Four men thought it sounded like fun and for a while it was.

Four men hooked a sofa to the back of a pickup truck early Sunday, with one driving as the other three rode the sofa through a cow pasture.

They pulled it through the field, and even up and down hills, but then the sofa flipped.

The Pierce County Sheriff's Office says it hit a mound of dirt and tipped over, throwing the three men off.

Timothy Flynn of Welch, Minnesota and Cole Eckhoff of Red Wing, both 21, were treated and released.

The other man, 24-year-old Bradley Johnson of Ellsworth, was airlifted to Regions Hospital in St. Paul where he's listed in serious condition.

"It's kind of their big thing for opening fishing weekend," said Sheriff Nancy Hove. "They get together and they've done this in the past and no one's ever gotten hurt. So I'm sure it didn't cross their mind how serious it could be."

Twenty-one-year old Joseph Schoeder of Beldenville, Wisconsin was the driver.

Hove says so far no charges have been filed. He won't say whether alcohol was involved.

URL with video: http://www.kare11.com/news/ts_article.aspx?storyid=253155

Submitted on 05/18/2007

Submitted by: Tina
Reference: Updated 5/7/2007 7:21:45 AM Three hurt in couch-towing stunt in cow pasture

Copyright © 2007 DarwinAwards.com

Graham said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
I was wondering when news of this one would emerge - and here we have it! It's a great story and gets MY vote. Thanks, Tina.

James said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
BINGO!! Thanks, Tina, THIS is the info I have been waiting for! Great visual, definite stupidity, &c &c! This one's a keeper!

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