Note: This story was last updated at 11:20 a.m. Sept. 18.
The Oak Ridge Police Department has identified the man who died while driving a commercial mower on South Illinois Avenue on Thursday afternoon as Danny Palmer.
The crash between the commercial mower being operated by Palmer, 75, and a GMC pickup truck was reported near Summit Place on South Illinois Avenue at about 2 p.m. Thursday.
Preliminary findings indicate that the pickup truck hit the mower, which was in the roadway at the time of the crash, the ORPD said.
Palmer later died of his injuries, the ORPD said.
The driver of the pickup truck, who has not been identified, was not injured.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation, the ORPD said. One lane of northbound traffic on South Illinois Avenue north of Centrifuge Way remained closed until about 7:30 p.m. Thursday as officers reconstructed the crash as part of their investigation.
Palmer was a lifetime resident of Oak Ridge, and he graduated from Oak Ridge High School in 1961, according to his obituary. He was the owner and operator of Diversified Service Associates Inc., and he had mowed the right of ways for the City of Oak Ridge for 40 years, the obituary said.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
Philip W Nipper says
Often times I would be concerned for the safety of these folks while seeing them cut the grass along our city streets. I believe Mr. Palmer had the contract with the city for many years to mow along our streets. So sad he lost his life. My condolences to his family.
johnhuotari says
Hi, Philip. We updated the story with some information from Mr. Palmer’s obituary. It said that Danny Palmer was a lifetime resident of Oak Ridge who graduated from Oak Ridge High School in 1961, and he was the owner and operator of Diversified Service Associates Inc. and had mowed the right of ways for the City of Oak Ridge for 40 years.
Mark Caldwell says
I long for the day that people are not allowed to drive their vehicles on public roads. These deaths and injuries caused by aggressive and distracted drivers must end.