McDowell Man Found Dead, Pinned Beneath Mower

MCDOWELL COUNTY, N.C.,None — An accident left a man lying dead for as long as a week before neighbors discovered his body.

Roy L. Watson, 84, of 4440 U.S. 221 North, died after overturning his lawn tractor in the woods behind his home, according to Lt. Dan Shook of the McDowell County Sheriff's Office.

The call came in to 911 before noon on Wednesday after neighbors, concerned they had not seen Watson in about a week, found him pinned beneath the machine, Shook said.

"It was a very steep grade on the logging road," he stated. "It was apparent that as he was coming down, he lost control and overturned, pinning him underneath."

Shook described the lawn tractor as an older lawn mower, approximately 42-inch. Watson had a trailer attached when the accident happened, but it did not appear to have had a load when it overturned.

The investigation is concluded, he added.

"It was obviously accidental. He was pinned under in such a way he could not have gotten out," the detective stated.

Shook said Watson was a resident of Orlando, Fla. His Marion property was a summer home. His only relative in McDowell was a brother, Robert Watson, according to Shook. Attempts to reach the brother by phone were unsuccessful Thursday.

WSOC