Dana Burrell was on break from university studies
By Ruth Luse
Dana L. Burrell, 18, of Lambertville-Hopewell Road, Hopewell Township, was killed today (Monday) in an accident on her family’s property.
Ms. Burrell, police Chief George Meyer said, was mowing grass with a John Deere (GT275) lawn tractor at the rear of the property when the accident occurred. She "was mowing a raised portion of the yard that has a 3.5-foot-high wall on one edge. As she mowed along the edge the tractor went over the edge of the wall overturning on top of her."
There were no witnesses to the accident, the chief said. "Family members were at home at the time and, in fact, found her within 10 minutes of the accident." She had not been seen for 10 minutes, said the chief, who noted that it was her father who found her.
Hopewell Emergency Medical Unit and the Hopewell Valley Emergency Services ambulances responded to the 10:59 a.m. call. "Dana was transported to the trauma unit at Capital Health System, Helene Fuld Campus, where she was pronounced dead at 12:22 p.m.," Chief Meyer reported.
"It is uncertain why the mower went off the edge of the wall. The lawn tractor appeared to be in good condition," the chief said.
Also responding to the call were Capital Health System paramedics.
Patrolman Robert Sparano and Detective Dan McKeown are in charge of the investigation.
A freshman at Philadelphia University, Ms. Burrell was home on a break. She was a 2005 graduate of Hopewell Valley Central High School, where she played lacrosse and field hockey.