1-Year-Old Girl Tragically Killed in Michigan Riding Mower Incident

A one-year-old girl has died after being struck by a riding lawn mower in Lenawee County, according to police officials.

How the Accident Happened

The girl’s 52-year-old grandmother was mowing the lawn and did not realize the child was outside, according to the Lenawee County Sheriff's Office. Deputies were called to a home in Woodstock Township at approximately 4:52 p.m. on Sunday, June 29.

The child was taken to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead, according to The Detroit News.

Additional details, including the child’s name, have not been released.

Lawn Mower Injuries: More Common — and More Dangerous — Than Many Realize

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 85,000 people are injured by lawn mowers each year in the U.S., with approximately 9,400 of those injuries involving children under 18.

Lawn mower injuries are the leading cause of major amputations in children, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Children under age 5 are at particular risk, especially when riding mowers are put in reverse and young children are not seen by the operator.

While most incidents result in nonfatal injuries, lawn mower accidents cause an average of 70 deaths each year in the U.S., with children making up a disproportionate share of those fatalities.

Experts say these tragedies are often preventable. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under 6 be kept indoors during mowing, that children under 12 not operate a push mower, and that no one under 16 should use a riding mower.