[Photo Story 4 Struggle] Jumping A Dead Car Off

By: Kenna Epps 

Cade Hodgin,17, prepares to jump a car off. “My little sister is going to try and help me jump this car off, she is mean as a snake. She doesn’t look like it but the scar under my right says otherwise.” 

Kiley Kate Hodgin,12, is getting ready to help her brother jump a car off. “I’m smarter than he is so I’ll probably have to do most of the work with this project but it’s what I’m used to.”

Cade Hodgin, 17, opens the hood of his truck to attach the jumper cables. Once the jumper cables are attached to his battery they will be ready to be attached to the other battery.

Cade Hodgin, 17, cranks his truck up, powering the jumper cables. Once the jumper cables are powered they cannot be unattached.

A turn of unfortunate events, Cade’s truck won’t start. “Sometimes she does this and I just have to be a little harder with her; see she’s coming to life now.”

Cade Hodgin, 17, disattaches the battery and closes the hood of his truck. “I’m going to let her rest and see if it’ll jump once I give her a minute.”

After the time has passed, Cade Hodgin, 17, reopens the hood of his truck to try and jump the car off. Once he opens the hood he’ll try and crank it then reattach the cables.

Before the cables can be attached to his truck battery he needs to remove them from the dead car. “I don’t think this is the safest way to do this but I’m only 17 so I can’t get hurt to badly.”

Cade Hodgin, 17, reattaches the cables to his car battery in order to jump the dead car off. “This time should work, my truck cranked so there should be further issues.”

Cade Hodgin (right) teaches Kiley Kate Hodgin (left) how to attach cables to a car battery. Cade Hodgin states “I know she’s not paying attention but I’ll help her out when she needs it.”

Kiley Kate Hodgin, 13, attaches the cables to the dead car battery. Her older brother, Cade Hodgin, let’s her try attaching the cables before both cars get turned on.

Cade Hodgin, 17, attaches the cables to his battery to try and jump the car off. “I know this is the time I just know it.”

Kiley Kate Hodgin, 13, manages holding the hood up while Cade jumps the car off. “My arms are tired.”

Jay Hodgin, 51, comes to help his niece and nephew. After several attempts by themselves they called an adult.

Cade Hodgin, 17, contemplates the issue as the car still won’t start. “The rain is coming and the car still won’t start; I’m not sure what else to do.”

Cade Hodgin (front) goes to get different jumper cables. Kiley Kate Hodgin (back) holds the hood of the car up as Cade fetches the new cables.

Jay Hodgin (right) assists his niece in attaching the new cables. Kiley Kate Hodgin (left) holds the hood of the car and watches what parts of the battery to attach to the cables.

Kiley Kate Hodgin (left) holds the hood of the car as her uncle Jay (right) takes a phone call. “I’ve been holding this thing for a minute and my arms are really starting to hurt.”

After many tries, the family packs the cables up. Their uncle (right) holds the hood as Kiley Kate (left) packs the jumper cables up.

Unsuccessful, Kiley Kate Hodgin (right) and Cade Hodgin (left) stand next to the dead car. After trying everything to power it, the car will not start.