Norfolk, Va. - A Norfolk city worker was injured Thursday when he was hit by a truck while riding a lawnmower.
The truck that hit the lawnmower was following two city mowers on Colonial Avenue when the driver attempted to pass around them.
At that point, one of the mowers attempted to make a left turn and the two collided.
The city says all safety guidelines were being following when the worker was hit. That includes caution signs on the back of the mowers and the drivers were wearing protective vests.
Leland Lambson retired in March after 13 years of mowing grass for the City of Norfolk. He says the job is dangerous.
“It comes with the territory. You can’t do it without having close calls.”
And with no signs warning drivers about workers, Lambson says those close calls get closer.
NewsChannel 3 went out Friday afternoon looking for workers mowing in the city and couldn’t find a single mower with any caution signs on mowers, on the roadway, or on the work trucks.
When asked if he was surprised by that, Lambson says, “No, because that’s how they always operated.”
In Virginia Beach, the difference is drastic. City workers mowing along Providence Road on Friday had caution signs on the back of the mowers and blinking lights to warn drivers.
“It makes you a little disgruntled that you can’t be protected like they are,” Lambson says.
NewsChannel 3 took action and showed Norfolk City officials how none of the mowers had caution signs on the back – which is something they say is required under their safety guidelines.
Since then, we’ve gotten results. All mowers without signs have been pulled so the warning can be added.
