Pasco Employee Airlifted After Fiery Lawnmower Crash

A 56-year-old Zephyrhills woman is in serious condition following a crash involving a lawn mower and a vehicle Wednesday morning.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Linda Gundaker, a Pasco County Public Works employee, was mowing the grass on the south shoulder of Calle De Milagros in Dade City when she was struck by a vehicle driven by Joel Caphart, 70.

Troopers say Caphart was heading east on Calle De Milagros, near Julian Street, around 9:10 a.m. when he began traveling southeast for no known reason. Caphart’s vehicle left the road and struck the rear of Gundaker’s mower.

The mower, a FHP report said, rotated clockwise and burst into flames.

Gundaker was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital with serious injuries, the report said. Caphart suffered minor injuries.

The investigation is ongoing and charges are pending, the agency noted.

Photos courtesy of the Florida Highway Patrol