Jay L. Roush was found after another employee of the Eagle Ridge Golf Course was unable to reach him by phone
Credit: Jay Roush/Facebook
NEED TO KNOW
- Jay L. Roush was found “unresponsive and pinned underneath a mower in a pond” at the Eagle Ridge Golf Course in Illinois
- Officials determined that a fellow employee of the golf course went looking for Roush after he was unable to reach him by phone
- After finding the 64-year-old pinned under a mower in three feet of water, the coroner pronounced him dead at the scene
A 64-year-old golf course employee was found dead after being pinned underneath a lawn mower in Illinois.
On Friday, May 22, 911 dispatchers responded to reports that an employee of Eagle Ridge Golf Course — identified as Jay L. Roush — was found “unresponsive and pinned underneath a mower in a pond” around 12:10 p.m. local time, according to the Edgar County Coroner's Office.
After the Horizon Health Ambulance, Paris Fire Department, Paris Police Department and Edgar County Sheriff's Department all responded to the call, the coroner was immediately called, and Roush was pronounced dead at the scene.
Upon investigation, officials determined that another employee of the Eagle Ridge Golf Course went looking for the Vermilion resident after he had been unable to reach him by phone, per a news release. He was later found pinned under a zero-turn mower within approximately three feet of water.
Credit: Jay Roush/Facebook
It is unclear what caused the mower to drift into the pond.
While the incident remains under investigation by the Edgar County Sheriff's Department and the Edgar County Coroner, an autopsy has been scheduled for Tuesday morning, May 26, in Springfield, Ill., by forensic pathologist Dr. Nate Patterson.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The Paris Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's requests for comment on Sunday, May 24.
A similar incident occurred nearby in March when 51-year-old Daniel Crumine died from “crush injuries” after being found under a mower at the maintenance building of Springfield Park District's Lincoln Greens Golf Course.
“This was an unfortunate, tragic accident,” Patrick Murphy, Chief of the Springfield Park District Police, told WCIA at the time. “There's no criminal element to it. However, a thorough investigation will still be done to verify preliminary findings.”
The Springfield Park District also shared a statement following the incident.
“We are shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic accident that occurred at Lincoln Greens Golf Course today,” the agency wrote, per WICS. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.”
Read the full article here