Wednesday, June 19, 2002
COLUMBIANA -- A 5-year-old Fairfield Township girl is dead after being run over by a lawn tractor driven by her mother.
Shelby Taylor, daughter of Todd and Casey Taylor, of 4039 Woodville Road, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, Sgt. Allan Young of the Columbiana County Sheriff's Department said today.
Casey Taylor was mowing the lawn at the family's home at about 7 p.m. Monday when Shelby approached the tractor at an angle as Taylor was beginning to turn, Young said.
It's unclear why the child came toward the machine.
Taylor tried to hit the tractor's brake, but pushed the accelerator instead, causing the tractor to lunge and run over the girl, Young said.
An ambulance was called to the scene.
Its crew summoned the sheriff's department.
The Columbiana County Coroner's office is investigating. A spokesman was unavailable this morning.
"This is an accident," Young said. "It's really sad."