Claremont man struck, killed on riding lawn mower
Sep. 19—A 59-year-old Claremont man was struck and killed Saturday night while riding his lawn mower on Shook Road.
The N.C. Highway Patrol responded to the accident Saturday at 8:20 p.m. and learned that a 2001 Honda Passport traveling south on Shook Road, near Rock Barn Road in Catawba County, struck a riding lawn mower that was moving south along the roadway.
Troopers learned that the riding lawn mower was not displaying any lights or reflective markings, said Master Trooper Christopher Casey, with the N.C. Highway Patrol.
Phillip Michael Brooks, 59, of Claremont, was thrown off the riding lawn mower and became critically injured, Casey said. He was taken by Emergency Medical Services personnel to Catawba Valley Medical Center in Hickory, where he was pronounced dead, Casey said.
The driver of the Honda Passport, Christopher Chad Miller, 52, of Hickory, was not injured.
During the investigation, Shook Road was partially closed for about two hours.
The investigation showed that speed and alcohol were not contributing circumstances that led to the accident.
The N.C. Highway Patrol does not plan to file any charges in the case, Casey said.
