Death of APG Employee Under Investigation: Officials

A civilian employee of the U.S. Army who was cutting grass at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) in the Edgewood area died Tuesday, according to a statement from APG spokesman Kelly Luster. 

Willie Stevenson, 61, was airlifted to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where he was pronounced deceased, according to the report.

At 9:15 a.m., emergency personnel responded to the area of the MD Route 24 gate by Hoadley Road after an incident occurred at 9 a.m. that severely injured Stevenson, the report said.

The cause of the grass-cutting incident remains under investigation, Luster said.

Stevenson, who served in the U.S. Army for approximately 10 years, had been employed at APG for nearly 25 years, according to the report.

"Everyone at Team APG is extremely saddened at the loss of one of our own," Garrison Commander Col. Gregory McClinton said. "Willie was part of our family and will be sadly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, and we mourn with them during this time." 

In the aftermath of the incident, McClinton ordered an immediate "safety stand down," which entails a review of operating procedures and discussion of best practices.