A state senator from Kentucky was seriously injured last week in a bizarre accident at his home.
Local authorities said that Johnnie Turner, a 76-year-old Republican state senator, was in critical condition after a lawn mower that he was riding fell into a swimming pool at his home that was empty.
According to Kentucky State Police, Turner was riding on the mower when suddenly it fell into the deep end of the swimming pool, which was drained of water. It happened late on Sunday, with an emergency services call being made to 911 just before 8 p.m.
Turner is being held at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, where he is listed in critical but stable condition.
After the incident happened, Robert Stivers, the president of the Kentucky state Senate, said Turner’s family was asking for people to pray for his “speedy recovery.”
In a press release, Stivers said:
“Senator Johnnie Turner remains in critical but stable condition at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. I’ve been in touch with Johnnie’s family, who are with him at the hospital.”
It’s not clear what caused the accident at this point. Before he was transported to the Knoxville hospital to receive special care, Turner was first transported to a local hospital.
The full extent of the state senator’s injuries also haven’t been publicly reported yet.
Turner has been serving on the state Senate since 2020, representing District 29. He’s an attorney and former medic in the U.S. Army.
He’s been a staunch advocate for the coal industry in Kentucky, which has experienced huge declines over the last few years due to environmental regulations and economic shifts.
Turner first won his seat on the state Senate after unseating the incumbent Democrat in the general election. He recently held off two challengers within his own party to win the primary, and is seeking re-election in November.
His state Senate page says that he graduated from Union College in 1974 and then from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 1977. In addition to his work in private practice, Turner worked for the city of Cumberland and for the Harlan County Public Schools.
During his time on the Kentucky state Senate, Turner has served on the Transportation Committee, the Natural Resources and Energy Committee, the Judiciary Committee, and the Banking and Insurance Committee.
The Kentucky Legislature is dominated by the Republican Party, and it was very likely that Turner was set to win re-election come November.
Many lawmakers have been meeting in their interim committees ahead of the 2024 session, discussing some of the key issues facing the state ahead of its 30-day session, which is set to begin soon.
Newsweek tried to contact Turner’s office to get further comments on the situation and the senator’s health, but the media outlet didn’t receive a return response.
