Be careful on Zero turn mowers

[doublesharp]

ZTRs are often a topic here so I thought I'd post this sad story from near my birthplace.

Crews searching Lake Cumberland for missing Pulaski County doctor

PULASKI COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT) - Crews in Pulaski County are looking for a missing doctor.

According to the sheriff's office, 66-year-old Dr. Robert Supinski was last seen riding a zero-turn mower Wednesday afternoon at his home on Lake House Drive.

Investigators think the mower somehow went through a fence and slid over a bluff causing Supinski to fall into Lake Cumberland.

The mower was found in about 20 feet of water, but there was no sign of Supinski.

Search crews are back out Thursday to try and find him. The sheriff's office says the search for Dr. Supinski is a recovery effort.

 

[BigBill]

We never know with any mower? If we're on meds read the caution label do not operate machinery.

 

[arjay]

Poor guy!Bet he stroked or had a heart event.

 

[Golphin]

if he let go of the handles the mower should stop so something must have been wrong with him. To go straight both handles need to be pushed forward evenly. If only one it would go in circles or even one more than the other. Hard for me to believe if he passed out the mower would have continued on.

 

[hittman77]

Tragic no matter how it happened.

Folks I know who have ZTRs complain they're likely to slide out of control on even the slightest hill or grade if the grass is wet.

 

[Muss Muggins]

I would be checking the Dr.'s credit cards, passport, cell phone, and bank account for continued signs of use. But I'm funny like that . . .

 

[mckenney99]

At least once a season around here, there is a news report of a Z-turn sliding into a pond or overturning on wet grass near a ditchline or hillside. Never a happy ending.

 

[Golphin]

Tragic no matter how it happened.

Folks I know who have ZTRs complain they're likely to slide out of control on even the slightest hill or grade if the grass is wet.

Thats fine but this one went through a fence. Does not sound like a mower sliding to me unless it was one large wet hill. People also get injured with guns all the time but it is the people not the gun that cause it. No different than someone mowing on a hill in wet grass with any kind of mower.

 

[kraynky]

There was a guy near here about 5 years ago, mowing around his pond with a Z-turn mower. It slid down the bank, into the pond, pinning him down under it. Very sad discovery for the family looking for Dad, who was late for dinner.

Thankfully my ground is pretty level (rough as what,have'ya) but only the front ditch by the road has a steep slope. After the first try on the Z-turn, I went back to the push mower or weed whacker. They do slide on a slope.

Be very aware of your conditions when maneuvering on any slope, on any machine, of any type...... it ain't worth the risk to "just go on and get it while I'm here".

Use your noggin and think about "what if".........

Prayers for the family of the missing Dr.

 

[Frank46]

When I bought my Kubota L3800 some years back the dealer actually told me they had made good on two claims. Both operators had driven their tractors into the bayou. Had to get two tow trucks to get them out one at a time. I have bayou frontage property and get no closer than 4 feet. One reason I never have taken down the trees on the banks. And with all the rain we had about two weeks ago the water was at lease 20' over the bayou banks. That ares is going to be full of gumbo mud. Frank

 

[rwsmith]

I watch a lot....

I would be checking the Dr.'s credit cards, passport, cell phone, and bank account for continued signs of use. But I'm funny like that . . .

I watch a lot of those crime shows, too, about disappearances, unsolved mysteries and cold cases.

 

[jeffrefrig]

I watch some of our neighbors' landscapers fly around on those mowers. Some of these companies work their guys 10 hours a day, 7 days a week. More ya work, the more money. Those things just don't look safe, for me anyways! I remember all the 3-wheeler accidents back in the day. Those weren't safe at all, especially when you have 11 beers in you and whatever else you smoke out in the woods. Anything with that mixture isn't safe. Hate to see people die just from doing lawn maintenance.

 

[GF]

It ain't about the mower.
He's not in Lake Cumberland.
Ol' Dr Robert skipped out with a 21 yo office girl!

Shame the mower got dunked.

 

[double-dipper]

A few years ago a fella here rolled one into a sewage lagoon and drowned. What a crappy way to go!!!

 

[yaktamer]

Don't know why anybody is surprised that a mower that can only go in a straight line (ZERO turns) would crash through a fence.

 

[CH4]

Just recently here in S/W Washington we had a 2 year old killed when he fell under a zero-turn mower while riding on it as dad mowed the yard.

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-st...3/toddler-killed-after-falling-off-lawn-mower

 

[BigBoy99]

Just another example to show the wife that cutting the grass can be very bad for your health!

 

[yaktamer]

This is why God made sheep.