Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Green Acres Country Club maintenance worker Richard L. Bowden, 62, crushed to death by overturned lawn mower in Northbrook, Illinois







After an autopsy, the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office established the cause of death as accidental by traumatic asphyxia, or, suffocation due to crushing, a spokeswoman said Monday.

CHICAGO (CBS) — A maintenance worker was killed when he was pinned underneath a large lawn mower Saturday afternoon at a north suburban country club, the second such incident in the suburbs in just over a week.

Richard L. Bowden, 62, was riding a commercial mower on the property of Green Acres Country Club at 916 Dundee Rd. He was cutting grass along an incline on an embankment when the mower tipped over and pinned him underneath, according to a statement from the Village of Northbrook.

Bowden, a Deerfield resident, was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:53 p.m., according to the village and the Cook County medical examiner’s office. He was a contract employee of a landscaper company.

An autopsy Sunday found he died of traumatic asphyxia when he was pinned under the mower, and blunt force injuries were listed as a contributing factor, according to the medical examiner’s office. His death was ruled an accident.

“On behalf of the Village of Northbrook, we extend our condolences to the family and friends of Richard L. Bowden,” according to the statement.

His death remains under investigation by the village.

Just eight days earlier, a water department plant worker was killed when he was pinned under water by a mower in northwest suburban Hanover Park.

On May 5, 50-year-old Steven Daley was injured while working at the Hanover Park Wastewater Treatment Plant at 5600 Glenbrook Blvd., according to the Village of Hanover Park.

An autopsy found Daley drowned after being pinned under water by a lawn mower, according to the medical examiner’s office. His death was ruled an accident.

Daley, a Streamwood resident, was a 19-year employee and worked as a water treatment operator in the sewer maintenance division of the Hanover Park Public Works Department.



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A 62-year-old Deerfield man was killed after falling from a riding mower at Green Acres Country Club Saturday.


By Jonah Meadows (Patch Staff) - May 16, 2017 10:05 am ET



NORTHBROOK, IL — A lawn worker at a country club died after being pinned below a riding mower Saturday afternoon.

Richard L. Bowden, 62, mowed lawns at Green Acres Country Club in Northbrook. He was cutting grass along an incline on an embankment when the large mower tipped over, trapping him underneath. He was pronounced dead at 2:53 p.m., according to a statement from the Village of Northbrook. Bowden's death was ruled an accident due to traumatic asphyxia and blunt force injuries from falling from and being pinned under a riding mower, according to results of a Sunday autopsy from the Cook County Medical Examiner.

Bowden, of Deerfield, was a contract worker for a landscaping company hired by Green Acres. His death remains under investigation by the village, according to the statement.

“On behalf of the Village of Northbrook, we extend our condolences to the family and friends of Richard L. Bowden,” the statement said.

According to an obituary submitted by his family: 


Rick was an avid outdoorsman and was always up earlier than you. For the past 38 years he enjoyed maintaining the grass for a game he couldn't play. His endless knowledge, extraordinary work ethic and larger than life sense of humor was admired by all and is sincerely missed by family. 


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Obituary for Rick "Bood" Bowden 


Rick “Bood” Bowden, 62, of Deerfield, IL passed away on May 13, 2017. 

Beloved husband of Tammy nee Largo; loving father of Kimberly Lynn Raney and papa to Robert (Bubba); loving son to Janet and the late Richard Bowden; dear brother to James (Bean), Bruce, and Joe; and fond uncle to Loren, Katie, and Sean. 

Rick was an avid outdoorsman and was always up earlier than you. For the past 38 years he enjoyed maintaining the grass for a game he couldn't play. 

His endless knowledge, extraordinary work ethic and larger than life sense of humor was admired by all and is sincerely missed by family. A celebration of Rick’s life will be held on Monday, May 22, 2017 from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm at Buffo's, 431 Sheridan Rd, Highwood, IL 60040. The family asks everyone to please bring a photo/article/memory of Rick with your name written on it. The items will be made into a scrapbook for his grandson. For more funeral info or directions please call Kelley & Spalding Funeral Home at (847) 831-4260.