TOWN OF NEWBURGH – A 78-year-old long-time
worker at Cedar Hill Cemetery on Route 9W in the Middle Hope section of
the Town of Newburgh was killed Tuesday afternoon when he became trapped
under a large lawn machine.
Middle Hope firefighters responded and found Franklin Rose trapped under
the roll bar of the lawn mower. He was unresponsive and taken to St. Luke’s
Cornwall Hospital in Newburgh where he was pronounced dead a short time
later.
Police Chief Michael Clancy said the preliminary investigation at the
scene indicates Rose was mowing up and down a hillside when the mower
turned sharply. Rose, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected and
the mower tipped over on top of him.
It is unknown if he suffered a medical event prior to the machine tipping
over. The mower was impounded for further investigation.
The Orange County Medical Examiner’s Office was notified to assist
and determine a probable cause of death.
OSHA will also be notified since this was a workplace incident.
