2 YO run over by lawn mower

[PhilNH5]

A link to the Boston Globe article. Afather backed over his two year old son. The son died.
A true tragedy.

Be careful out there

 

[bandit67]

This is something I worry about every time I get on my tractor. Most of my work happens in the back yard beyond the current lawn area, so my 3 year old is not allowed to step off the lawn while I'm on the tractor, nor is she allowed to come talk to me while I'm working (dirt work). But I still always keep an eye out to see where she is in the yard when outside - I've even stopped and climbed off the tractor a number of times to go track her down, and found out she went inside. And I constantly remind my wife and the older kids to keep her in their sight while I'm working on the tractor.

She's also not allowed outside at all while I'm mowing - not only can a child be run over, but they won't fare too well if hit by something thrown by the mower. That's why the mfr's make the chutes so that the clippings are sent out in a downward arc, and why I would never flip the chute up while mowing, as some folks do.

 

[MaineGuy]

Very sad tragic event. When I'm mowing there's no one else outside in the yard. Not my wife or my dog.....I put a stone through a window in the Explorer recently and was very glad it wasn't someone walking past the mower that got hit. As careful as I try to be it's impossible to watch out for everything taking place. I feel very badly for the child's family.

 

[beenthere]

And worst of all, I expect the father will not be the guilty one, but the mfg of the mower will be hit with all kinds of lawsuits. Dumb, but we have to feed the lawyers. True, that the father has to live with the guilt of killing his child. Hopefully he doesn't get paid for doing it, as well.

 

[TommyP]

Everyone, I couldn't agree more with MaineGuy.
I refuse to let anyone be out anywhere in the yard when I am mowing. As we have seen, "Accidents happen!".
I have a friend whose child went under the mower after a ball while the mower was unattended, the little guy did not die but is physically and mentally challenged as a result.
I also work in a pediatric ICU and have seen the ugly results, not only of lawnmower accidents but 4 wheeler and bike accidents where helmuts were not worn.
I will not take even the most remote chances with my family and I wish no one would.

Sorry, I will get off my soapbox.

 

[Soundguy]

Truely tragic... I feel for the father.

I wonder how the kid actually got under the deck.. with my deck at max height I may or may not be able to even run over a tennis ball...and that's the back of my deck.. which is higher than the front of my deck...

Guess we need to look forward to reverse alarms and 'bump' sensors that kill the mower on new lawnmowers now.

( speaking of that).. I know many people have talked about lawnmowers that don't let the blades engage in reverse... what manufacturers are using those? I know my murry will mow in reverse.. etc

Soundguy

 

[slowrev]

Soundguy,
Most if not all mowers I have seen sold in the past 2-3 years seems to have the no-reverse-mow feature.
Ben

 

[shvl73]

My Sears Craftsman will mow in reverse, 2003 model.
I've heard of people who disable the feature on the JD's & Cubs that have it. I don't feel I need it, but I'm not sure I would disable it either.

 

[Bird]

The one we've heard the most about not mowing in reverse is the Cub Cadet, and it seems that most of us figured out how to disable that feature, although the dealers supposedly won't do it. But my Craftsman mowed in reverse and now so does my Toro ZTR. I just cannot imagine having a mower that will not mow in reverse, but as with some others of you, I don't want anyone out in the yard or anywhere in the vicinity when I'm mowing. Of course, that father probably thought his little boy was a long ways off. And I cannot even imagine trying to recover from the trauma of killing one of your children. He certainly has my sympathy.

 

[johnday]

Remember way back when you were a kid. Machines like tractors and heavy equipment are giant kid magnets.

 

[JayC]

Wow. That is truly a tragic situation. Mowers can be very, very dangerous. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[JayC]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( That's why the mfr's make the chutes so that the clippings are sent out in a downward arc, and why I would never flip the chute up while mowing, as some folks do. )</font>

No little kids are ever out when I am cutting, but I still leave the shute on. I tried cutting with it off once (to try and cut down on the windrowing), and got more grass on me and the tractor than the lawn! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Needless to say I put the shute right back on. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[NIXON]

It's very sad to think that a father is grieving the loss of his child tomight . Let alone that He was part of the cause . I truly hope that He can find peace with himself

 

[Currmudgeon]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I know many people have talked about lawnmowers that don't let the blades engage in reverse... what manufacturers are using those? I know my murry will mow in reverse.. etc )</font>

My JD-110 lawnmower will shut down if you step on the reverse pedal with the PTO engaged, unless you hold down an override button. Of course, the 855 goes forward or backward with the PTO engaged.

 

[higgy]

That brings tears to my eye's, i can't even imagine the pain that they are enduring.

The loss makes my hart heavy.

 

[keeney]

Many kids who are injured by lawn tractors never come in contact with the blade - they simply get run over by the heavy machine. Even if they are not fatally injured, driving over a 30-lb 2YO with a 600 to 800lb machine is going to break some bones.

The no-mow-in-reverse featureis probably more effective in that it prevents extended cutting while reversing (and not looking back). Forces the operator to go forward more.

Rick