From staff reports
A Grove City man died Tuesday morning after he accidentally fell into a retention pond while operating a riding lawnmower in the front yard of the American Legion grounds in Findley Township. Mercer County.
Mercer state police identified the man as John A. Walochik, 65.
Police said Walochik was cutting the grass at the edge of the 20-foot pond at about 8:25 a.m. Tuesday when he accidentally slid the zero-turn mower into the pond. The mower and Walochik entered the water, and Walochik wasn’t able to swim to safety, police said.
Police said they determined Walochik was by himself when the incident occurred. Multiple American Legion members arrived shortly after the incident but didn’t immediately see Walochik in the pond, police said.
Around 11:45 a.m., a co-worker went outside for a break and walked toward the pond, where she observed Walochik’s body, police said.
Pine Township volunteer firefighters and Superior Ambulance assisted at the scene.
