The family of an Oklahoma woman cutting grass near an airport was horrified to learn of her death and how she died.
According to Fox News, 27-year-old Samantha Hayes of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, was struck in the head by the tip of an airplane wing while mowing grass at Broken Bow Municipal Airport.
Fox noted:
According to an incident report from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, a Bonanza A36 piloted by James Baxter was coming in for a landing and spotted Hayes after touching down on the runway at about 2:30 p.m.
The plane, a Bonanza A36, piloted by James Baxter, was coming in for a landing when the wing struck the woman in the head. He reportedly attempted to pull the plane back up to avoid striking her.
Samantha Hayes, 27, died after being hit on the head by the wing of a small aircraft, authorities said. https://t.co/tcvGW7HbRr
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) October 2, 2023
Sadly, Hayes was pronounced dead at the scene. She was the mother of three children.
It's still unclear exactly how the incident occured, and state authorities are currently investigating whether or not the pilot was at fault for the bizarre, fatal accident.
"We’re investigating whether any charges could [be] filed against the pilot," Oklahoma Highway Patrol spokesperson Sara Stewart told the Associated Press earlier this week. "Did the pilot do anything wrong or was this just unavoidable?"
Stewart added that other aspects of the horrific incident are under investigation, such as whether or not the woman was wearing reflective clothing, and if she was aware of the plane as it landed.
The New York Post obtained a quote regarding Hayes' death from City Manager Vickie Patterson, her employer.
"We are heartbroken and devastated by the passing of one of our team members," Patterson said in an emailed statement.
She added: "This is a terribly tragic accident, and our deepest sympathies go out to the employee’s family, friends, and co-workers. Our number one priority is always safety for the employees and public. It’s critical that we determine how this accident occurred."
"Currently we cannot provide further details until the investigation is completed by the Highway Patrol and FAA," Stewart added.
Messages of support and sympathy from her family and friends poured in on her Facebook page.
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