US Senator passes away following lawn mower accident

Kentucky state Senator Johnnie Turner, a strong advocate for the coal industry and various causes in his Appalachian district, has passed away at the age of 76 in the US. 

He suffered injuries at home last month after falling into an empty swimming pool while riding a lawn mower, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

A Republican from Harlan, Turner was well-liked for his down-to-earth demeanor, which resonated with both constituents and colleagues.

He died on the evening of October 22 following his “hard-fought battle” with the injuries from the accident, as stated by Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers on October 23.

“Johnnie spent his life lifting others — whether through his service in the US Army, as a member of the State House of Representatives and State Senate, or in his private legal practice,” Stivers said.

“His unwavering commitment to the people of eastern Kentucky — his constituents, brothers and sisters in Christ, whom he so fondly referred to as ‘his people’ — was at the heart of everything he did.”  

US Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell reminisced about encountering Turner while visiting his home state to assess the damage from flooding that affected parts of eastern Kentucky.

“Johnnie was on the scene, ankle-deep in mud, his equipment from home in tow, ready to help folks in Letcher County,” McConnell said in a statement. “That’s just who he was: a good man who loved the mountains and its people.” 

Kentucky Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer described Turner’s death as heartbreaking.

“He was just an amazing man of the mountains, who is kind and generous and open-minded about supporting initiatives that were good for the entire state, while at the same time being a fierce advocate for his region,” Thayer said in an interview.  

Turner championed pro-coal legislation and other initiatives aimed at uplifting his Appalachian district, which encompasses several counties in eastern Kentucky.

Coal employment, once the foundation of the eastern Kentucky economy, has significantly declined over the past decade due to lower natural gas prices and stricter environmental regulations that led electric providers to reduce coal purchases.

By Naila Huseynova