Thursday, August 05, 2010
Mower Blade Disengages
KENTUCKY...
It was shaping up to be a normal Wednesday evening for Valerie and Bo Keene of Greasy Creek at Shelbiana, but just after 5 p.m. something happened no one could have expected.
A county worker was cutting weeds when a blade from his mower suddenly came loose. The blade flew over two houses before entering through the exterior wall of the Keene’s residence. The blade continued through two interior walls before stopping at the side of their 15-month-old baby’s crib.
“It was a dangerous situation the Lord took control of,” Valerie said. “If anyone could see where it stopped, they would agree. There was sheet rock on the baby, my son had just bent over to pick something up when the blade flew over him, if he was still standing up, it would have hit him in the head.”
Valerie said what the blade had to miss to get to her house made it seem as though it was guided.
“Another six inches,” she said, “and it would have landed on our baby.”
Former county engineer Frank Goble said this is a problem that should be addressed.
“People all across the country need to know about this,” he said. “This is a problem that is relatively new.”
Pike County Judge-Executive Wayne T. Rutherford said maintenance garage personnel are currently physically checking the bottom of all mowers for any sign of the possible of a similar incident occurring.
Nee Jackson, Pike County Safety Director, said the employee told him he had just put his blade down when it began to vibrate and the blade flew off. The county’s insurance carrier and KACo have been notified.
“The incident is currently under investigation,” Rutherford said. “We are consulting with the University of Kentucky Transportation Center, the manufacturer of the mower and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary to discuss safety issues.”
Rutherford added the homeowners have already contacted contractors in regard to getting their home repaired.
“Thank God there were no injuries or death,” Rutherford said. “We are taking every action necessary to see this never happens again while still keeping our rights-of-way clean.”
District 4 Magistrate Kenneth Robinson said he has taken measures to increase the safety in the past.
“We had everything new put on that mower about six months ago,” he said. “It just can’t handle the pressure and I’m not putting it out there anymore. If it would have hurt or killed someone I would never be able to get over it.”
Pike County Road Commissioner Frank Hatcher called what happened a “freak accident” and said a thorough investigation is being conducted.
It was shaping up to be a normal Wednesday evening for Valerie and Bo Keene of Greasy Creek at Shelbiana, but just after 5 p.m. something happened no one could have expected.
A county worker was cutting weeds when a blade from his mower suddenly came loose. The blade flew over two houses before entering through the exterior wall of the Keene’s residence. The blade continued through two interior walls before stopping at the side of their 15-month-old baby’s crib.
“It was a dangerous situation the Lord took control of,” Valerie said. “If anyone could see where it stopped, they would agree. There was sheet rock on the baby, my son had just bent over to pick something up when the blade flew over him, if he was still standing up, it would have hit him in the head.”
Valerie said what the blade had to miss to get to her house made it seem as though it was guided.
“Another six inches,” she said, “and it would have landed on our baby.”
Former county engineer Frank Goble said this is a problem that should be addressed.
“People all across the country need to know about this,” he said. “This is a problem that is relatively new.”
Pike County Judge-Executive Wayne T. Rutherford said maintenance garage personnel are currently physically checking the bottom of all mowers for any sign of the possible of a similar incident occurring.
Nee Jackson, Pike County Safety Director, said the employee told him he had just put his blade down when it began to vibrate and the blade flew off. The county’s insurance carrier and KACo have been notified.
“The incident is currently under investigation,” Rutherford said. “We are consulting with the University of Kentucky Transportation Center, the manufacturer of the mower and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary to discuss safety issues.”
Rutherford added the homeowners have already contacted contractors in regard to getting their home repaired.
“Thank God there were no injuries or death,” Rutherford said. “We are taking every action necessary to see this never happens again while still keeping our rights-of-way clean.”
District 4 Magistrate Kenneth Robinson said he has taken measures to increase the safety in the past.
“We had everything new put on that mower about six months ago,” he said. “It just can’t handle the pressure and I’m not putting it out there anymore. If it would have hurt or killed someone I would never be able to get over it.”
Pike County Road Commissioner Frank Hatcher called what happened a “freak accident” and said a thorough investigation is being conducted.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 2:16 PM 
