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.