Kankakee man charged in fatal crash involving lawnmower

MANHATTAN TOWNSHIP – A Kankakee man has been arrested after a fatal crash involving a riding lawnmower.

Zevez A. Murrell, 31, was arrested on charges of reckless homicide and aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol.

State police said that about 12:48 p.m. Sunday, Thomas Knepper, 68, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was cutting grass in the 23000 block of Route 52 in Manhattan Township when he was struck by a Toyota Camry traveling south that left the roadway.

According to the Will County Coroner's office, Knepper was operating a John Deere lawn tractor to cut his girlfriend's lawn while he was visiting from out of state.

Knepper was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:25 p.m. Sunday.

Murrell, of the 300 block of North Wildwood Avenue, was booked into the Will County jail and is being held on $500,000 bond.

Murrell also was ticketed for improper lane usage, transporting open alcohol and failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident.