Three people were injured Sunday afternoon when a van struck a riding lawn mower on County Highway 8 in the Town of Oneonta, a collision violent enough to flip both vehicles onto their sides and throw the mower's operator from his seat. One of the three was flown by helicopter to Albany Medical Center for treatment.
New York State Police said troopers were sent to the reported serious crash at around 1:20 p.m. on Sunday, October 25, according to wbng.com. Troopers determined that a 24-year-old woman from Otego was driving a Ram ProMaster van south on County Highway 8 when she struck a 66-year-old Oneonta man who was operating a riding lawn mower, per the same report. Both vehicles were traveling in the same direction at the time of impact, according to Newport Dispatch, which identified the mower as a Kubota.
Impact Threw Rider From the Mower
The force of the collision caused both the van and the lawn mower to overturn onto their sides, and the mower's operator was thrown from the tractor, the station's report states. The 66-year-old man was airlifted to Albany Medical Center following the crash, the outlet reported.
The van's 24-year-old driver and a 37-year-old male passenger riding with her were taken to A. O. Fox Hospital for treatment, per the account from wbng.com.
Investigation Continues on Rural Highway
New York State Police said the investigation into the crash remains ongoing, without releasing further findings on what caused the collision or whether any citations have been issued. The circumstances that led the van to strike the mower from behind have not been detailed by investigators.
No additional details about road or weather conditions at the time of the crash have been released. State Police have not identified either the van's occupants or the mower's operator by name in their public statements on the case.
