Harlan, Kentucky – A Kentucky congressman was gravely injured after the lawn mower he was riding fell into an empty swimming pool at his house, authorities said Monday.
State Senator Johnnie Turner, a Republican from Harlan, was in critical but stable condition at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, according to Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers.
Turner sustained injuries after driving his mower into the pool’s deep end, according to Kentucky State Police. Authorities received the 911 call soon before 8 p.m. on Sunday. State police provided no information on what caused the crash. Turner was first brought to a local hospital before being moved to UT Medical Center.
Turner’s injuries were not immediately reported. His family has asked for prayers for his “speedy recovery,” according to Stivers.
Turner, an attorney, serves several counties in eastern Kentucky. He gained elected to the state Senate in 2020, defeating a Democratic incumbent with the same surname. Turner overcame two competitors in the Republican primary in May and will face an independent candidate in the November election. Turner served in the Kentucky House from 1999 to 2002.
Turner is an ardent supporter of the coal industry, which was formerly the foundation of the eastern Kentucky economy. Coal employment in Kentucky has declined dramatically over the previous decade, as lower natural gas prices and more environmental rules have forced electric utilities to abandon coal purchases.
Kentucky’s Republican-dominated legislature will begin its 2025 session in January. Until then, lawmakers are gathering in interim committees to investigate a variety of subjects in advance of next year’s 30-day session.
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