Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Worker was killed while mowing grass in Schuylkill County, PA after the riding lawnmower crushed her to death


Township Worker Killed in Lawn Mower Accident
by Clay LePard, Updated at 08:24pm, July 13, 2016
 

WEST PENN TOWNSHIP — A township worker was killed in an accident while mowing grass in Schuylkill County.

It happened along Zions Stone Church Road just before 1 p.m. Wednesday.

The Schuylkill County coroner’s office identified the victim as 54-year-old Tina Hoppes.

According to authorities, Hoppes was cutting grass near Tamaqua at the West Penn Township Community Park when the mower toppled over into a creek and ended up on top of her.

Hoppes was a long-time employee of West Penn Township.

“Great person, the whole family is nice,” said Mark Schwalm of S&L Landscaping. “None of them have a bad bug in them. They’re great people. They’re well known for what they do taking care of the park. They’ve done it for as long as I am old. It’s very sad. It’s a very sad day for the community that’s for sure.”

Schwalm and his crew do a little bit of everything, including cutting grass and they use similar lawn mowers. Shawlm is quick to point out how dangerous those zero-turn mowers can be.

“They slide very easy on a hill,” he added. “I tell [my employees] if there’s any question that they’re in any danger: stay away and get the weed whacker and weed whack where you can’t get the mower.”

A full autopsy is being scheduled to determine an official cause of death.