WEBSTER CITY – A Northern Iowa man was killed when his riding mower burst into flames after a mechanical malfunction.
According to the Webster City Fire Department, on September 29, 2025, at 3:09 PM, they were called to a possible house fire. Emergency responders raced to the call, and was then informed that it was a riding lawn mower on fire, with a person with critical burns.
The Webster City Fire Department then arrived on scene, with Van Diest Medical Center, to find a riding lawn mower fully involved and a patient injured. Firefighters quickly deployed a hose and put out the fire.
EMTs rendered aid to the patient on scene, then transported the patient, later identified as 56-year-old Todd Koop of Webster City, to Van Diest Medical Center for further care and evaluation. Other reports stated that fire had burned the lower portion of his body, and he was later airlifted to a burn unit at University of Iowa Hospitals.
The fire department said appears that the fire started due to some type of mechanical malfunction. Once fire was out, all fire units went back into service.
According to an obituary for Todd Koop, he passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on October 5, 2025, from injuries sustained in the accident.