Florence Child Dies in Tractor Accident

FLORENCE, Ala. (WHNT) – Florence Police say a six-year-old girl died Sunday evening while riding with her mother on a lawn tractor.

According to investigators, the mother was cutting grass at their home on West Meadowhill Drive in Florence when the incident happened.

Police say Colleen Persell fell off the back of the tractor and was run over by a mower attachment being pulled behind the tractor.

Florence Fire and Rescue and ambulance personnel transported the child to ECM Hospital in Florence, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

“There is no reason to believe that this is anything other than an accident,” said Florence Detective Drew Harless. “It’s a very unfortunate incident that occurred, one of the worst I have ever had to work.”

Because of the child’s age, an autopsy will be performed by the Alabama Department of Forensics.