Sunday evening in Monroe County ended in heartbreak when 73-year-old David W. Flood lost his life in a lawn mower accident along West Labo Road. Flood, a long-time resident of nearby Carleton, was riding his zero-turn mower along the grassy shoulder when the machine flipped into a steep ditch, trapping him underneath.
The accident happened around 6:19 p.m. on September 6, just east of Woodslee Drive. Emergency crews rushed to the scene after calls came in about a person pinned beneath heavy machinery. Firefighters and medics worked quickly to free Flood, but his injuries were too severe. He was pronounced dead right there at the scene.
People in Carleton knew Flood as a steady, quiet presence around town. At 73, he spent plenty of time working outdoors and keeping up with his property. Neighbors often saw him out riding his mower, taking care of the grass along the rural roads that run through Ash Township.
Word of his death spread quickly through the small community. For many who lived nearby, Flood was a familiar face you would wave to on a warm afternoon. His sudden loss left family members and long-time friends leaning on each other as they tried to process what happened.
First responders from the Ash Township Volunteer Fire Department and Monroe Community Ambulance were joined at the site by local support teams. Members of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Victim Services Unit and the Chaplain Program stayed on scene to help Flood’s family through the immediate shock of the evening.
Monroe County Sheriff Troy Goodnough confirmed that investigators do not believe alcohol played any role in the crash. Weather and road conditions are being looked at, but initial reports show Flood simply lost control on the sharp drop-off along the ditch bank.
As the sheriff’s office continues its review, folks in Carleton are remembering Flood for the life he built over seven decades in Michigan. For those close to him, the quiet roads of Ash Township will feel a little emptier without him riding by.
Leave a Reply