Kentucky Lawmaker Recovering After He Drove Lawnmower Into Empty Swimming Pool

State Sen. Johnnie Turner was injured Sunday when he drove his mower into the deep end of the pool at his home.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky lawmaker who was critically injured when the lawn mower he was riding plunged into an empty swimming pool has made progress in his recovery, a legislative spokesman said Wednesday. State Sen.

Johnnie Turner was able to sit upright and communicate on Tuesday and continued to improve Wednesday, said Dustin Isaacs, a spokesman for the Republican supermajority in the Kentucky Senate. “While he remains in ICU and in some pain, we are grateful for this positive progression,” Isaacs said in a statement. Turner, a Republican from Harlan, was injured Sunday when he drove his mower into the deep end of the pool at his home, Kentucky State Police said.



No details were provided as to what caused the accident. Consider supporting HuffPost starting at $2 to help us provide free, quality journalism that puts people first. Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.

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We hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more. Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages. Turner was taken to a local hospital and then transferred to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville.

His family has requested prayers for his “speedy recovery,” Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers has said. Turner, an attorney, represents multiple counties in eastern Kentucky. He won election to the state Senate in 2020, ousting a Democratic incumbent with a nearly identical name.

Turner defeated two challengers in the Republican primary in May, and he is being challenged by an independent candidate in the November election. Turner previously served in the Kentucky House from 1999 to 2002. Consider supporting HuffPost starting at $2 to help us provide free, quality journalism that puts people first.

Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read. Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor? Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. We hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more. Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.

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