Crime & Safety

Ireland Nugent's Mom Teams With Lawmaker to Promote Lawn Mower Safety

"Somebody's got to take the first step," said Nicole Nugent, who started a lawn mower safety petition on Change.org and is working with State Rep. Carl Zimmermann to raise awareness about lawn mower safety.

Just over three months ago, a Palm Harbor family's lives changed forever when a routine household chore turned to tragedy.

The evening of April 10, Jerry Nugent, 47, had just finished mowing the lawn and was putting the riding lawn mower away in the garage when his wife, Nicole, 31, began to wave her hands at him.

Jerry thought his wife was alerting him that he was about to run over something, so he put the lawn mower in reverse. However, Nicole was actually trying to let him know that his 2-year-old daughter Ireland was behind the lawn mower.

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Jerry wound up accidentally backing over Ireland, which severed her ankles.

It was a freak accident that unfolded quickly. Ireland had been in the family's secured pool area just minutes before and had managed to get out.

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"My baby was in a screened enclosure and within 15 seconds she was out. 15 seconds," Nicole Nugent told Palm Harbor Patch.

Ireland, who will celebrate her third birthday next month, will have to wear prosthetic legs for the rest of her life.

Sadly, two more Florida children were injured in lawn mower accidents last weekend; a 4-year-old in Hardee County and a 3-year-old girl in Lee County.

The two Florida accidents and a deadly accident involving a 1-year-old child in Washington State prompted Nicole Nugent to push for changes in lawn mower safety.

"Somebody's got to take the first step," she said.

So, Nugent started a petition on Change.org that urges the U.S. government and lawn mower manufacturers to enact stricter regulations for lawn mowers.

Nugent also took her concerns to lawmakers.

"I emailed every lawmaker I could get an email address for," she said.

State Rep. Carl Zimmermann, who lives in Palm Harbor, responded and met with Nicole Nugent Monday afternoon to discuss ways to spread awareness about lawn mower safety.

Zimmermann told Palm Harbor Patch that while any legislation regarding lawn mower safety would probably happen at the federal level, he does plan to write a letter to lawn mower manufacturers.

"The idea behind the letter would not in any way make them feel accountable, but it would bring awareness that we have a problem," said Zimmermann.

The lawmaker and Nugent are also looking into the possibility of having Home Depot sponsor a lawn mower safety awareness event where people could bring their lawn mowers in to be checked.

"We have to get more awareness about the problems," said Zimmermann.

"Wouldn't it be nice if the selling point on a lawn mower was a safety feature?" he added.

Want to follow Ireland Nugent's progress? 

The family has created a website that features updates about Ireland and lists fundraising events. You can also make a direct donation to the family if you wish.

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