A routine afternoon of yard work turned tragic for a Fort Mill family when an 18-year-old Catawba Ridge High School senior was fatally injured at his home on Friday, Feb. 20, York County officials said. Emergency crews rushed the teen to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Authorities have not released specific details about how he was hurt.
The York County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as 18-year-old Colton Brown and said the injury happened while he was working in the yard, according to WBTV. The coroner said the exact nature and cause of the injury are still unclear and that autopsy and toxicology testing have been ordered. No timeline has been given for when those results will be available.
Catawba Ridge officials confirmed Brown was a senior, and Principal Barry Ledford sent families a message offering counseling and grief resources, as reported by Queen City News. The school told families that counselors and the district crisis team would be available on campus and that a quiet space had been set up in the library for students who needed it.
Investigation underway
The York County Coroner’s Office said it responded to Piedmont Medical Center after Brown arrived there on Feb. 20 and that its investigation is ongoing, per WBTV. Officials emphasized that final conclusions about what happened will depend on autopsy and laboratory findings. They have not released additional information about the circumstances of the accident and said updates will be shared when available.
Why yard work can be dangerous
Lawn and yard equipment quietly send a lot of people to the emergency room every year. A U.S. NEISS analysis covering 2005 to 2015 estimated about 85,000 lawn-mower-related emergency visits annually, most often for lacerations and lower-extremity injuries, according to a 2018 study from PubMed. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that older children and teens are more likely to be injured while mowing and recommends that kids be at least 12 to operate a walk-behind mower and 16 before using a ride-on mower, per HealthyChildren.org. Suggested safety steps include clearing debris before mowing, wearing sturdy shoes and eye protection, and keeping younger children well away from operating equipment.
The York County Coroner’s Office has formally identified Brown and plans to release its findings after autopsy and lab testing are complete. Catawba Ridge officials say counseling and other support will remain available to students and families, and no timeline has been announced for further updates.
