Spokane cemetery worker dies in tractor-mower accident

A 44-year-old cemetery worker was killed this morning when a lawn tractor he was riding dropped down an embankment and landed on top of him, authorities said. The man, who was not immediately identified, was mowing grass in an area of Greenwood Memorial Terrace that was only supposed to be mowed with a push mower, according to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. Co-workers found the man trapped beneath the mower about 7:20 a.m., and he was still breathing at the time but he died at the scene at 211 N. Government Way. Sheriff’s deputies said the mower may have bounced after hitting a depression, which caused it to drop down the 6- to 8-foot embankment.