72 year-old thrown from garden tractor
in crash with Jeep on Hough Road
DRYDEN TOWNSHIP — A tragic collision between a vehicle and riding lawn mower claimed the life of a 72-year old Dryden man last week.
On Tuesday, May 9, around 3:30 p.m., emergency crews responded to the scene of the crash at Hough Road, just east of Rochester Road in Dryden Township.
In a press release on the incident, Dryden Township Police Chief Shawn Peters said the collision involved two motor vehicles, a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee and a garden tractor style riding lawn mower.
In the release, Chief Peters said, “The initial investigation revealed that the 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee, operated by a 52-year-old Almont man, was traveling west bound on the gravel surface of Hough Rd. At this same time a 72-year-old man from Dryden was operating a garden tractor / mower upon the travel portion of Hough Rd in the same area.”
Police say the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Husqvarna Garden Tractor collided, ejecting the Dryden man from the lawn tractor, causing life-threatening injuries.
Chief Peters reported, “a short time later, Lapeer County EMS Alpha 80 arrived on scene and assessed the 72-year-old male’s condition who was later pronounced dead at the scene by medical professionals.”
The 52-year-old Almont man who was operating the Jeep Grand Cherokee did not appear to suffer any notable injury in the accident, according to police.
Chief Peters said although the incident remains under investigation, alcohol and drugs do not appear to be a factor in the crash.
The Dryden Township Police Department was assisted at the scene by the Lapeer County Accident Reconstruction Team, Almont Police Department, Metamora Township Police Department, Lapeer County EMS, Dryden Township Fire Department, Lapeer County Victim Services Unit, and Lapeer County Central Dispatch.
Police are asking anyone who may have further information regarding the crash to contact the Dryden Township Police Department at 810-796-2271.
