EXCLUSIVE
The lawnmower at the centre of the “suspicious” late-night death of a mother of three has a safety feature designed to prevent the vehicle from moving when no one is sitting in it.
Frances Crawford, 49, was found dead at her home on Thomas Road in Upper Lockyer, south-east Queensland, at 3.40am on Tuesday after police were called to the property following reports she had been crushed by a lawnmower.
Police announced on Thursday that the case was being treated as suspicious, just hours after ten police cars, including several forensic vehicles, were seen arriving at the rural property.
Now, Daily Mail Australia can reveal that Husqvarna lawnmowers, like the one towed from the property on Tuesday, are fitted with a built-in “kill switch”.
Kill switches, a common feature on self-propelled lawn mowers, work by shutting off the device’s main systems (such as the engine and blade) when the operator leaves the seat.
However, the adjustment, which works via a pressure sensor located under the seat, can be disabled, and it is not uncommon for drivers to do so for ease of use.
It is also unclear how effective this feature would be in preventing injuries if a lawnmower ran into trouble on a slope and rolled down an embankment, as was initially reported to be the case in Ms. Crawford’s death.
The revelation comes as police work to piece together the circumstances surrounding the unusual death, with detectives apparently baffled as to why Ms Crawford was outside mowing the lawn at that time of night in the middle of winter.
Frances Crawford, 49 (pictured), was found dead at her home on Thomas Road in Upper Lockyer, near Toowoomba in south-east Queensland, at about 3.40am on Tuesday.
Detectives spent Tuesday collecting evidence from the home (including the lawnmower, pictured)
Temperatures in Toowoomba early Tuesday morning dropped to -5°C.
Two days after the investigation began, police revealed on Thursday that they have now “treated the death as suspicious” following “further investigations.”
However, detectives are still awaiting the results of forensic tests, including the results of the autopsy.
Nine police cars were seen arriving at the property, which is situated in woodland at the end of a 1km-long access road.
The vehicles included two forensic vans, detectives in a four-wheel-drive vehicle, a pickup truck filled with forensic supplies, two patrol vehicles and uniformed officers in an unmarked car.
Ms Crawford is a psychologist who grew up in the Toowoomba area.
Her husband, Robert Crawford, is an RAAF cargo pilot and squadron leader (a senior position and the equivalent of a major in the military) operating from the Royal Australian Air Force base at Amberley, about 8 km southwest of Ipswich.
Over the past two decades the couple have lived across Australia, including in Sydney, Adelaide and Queensland, while Sqn Ldr Crawford served in numerous roles within the Australian Defence Force.
Husband Robert Crawford (pictured) is a squadron leader (a senior position and the equivalent of a major in the military) operating out of Royal Australian Air Force Base Amberley.
Pictured above is one of nine police cars that arrived at the property on Thursday.
A police vehicle is seen leaving the rural property on Thursday afternoon after the case was deemed suspicious.
Forensic equipment could be seen in one of the arriving vehicles.
Speaking to the Daily Mail Australia, Crawford’s parents Joke and Ben Pilon said their son-in-law Robert was devastated by his wife’s death.
“It’s broken,” Ms. Pilon said.
‘They lived here happily together.’
Tributes have begun to pour in for Ms Crawford, who has been remembered for her “gentle nature” and kindness.
Her brother, David Pilon, said she had “a loving heart.”
“She loved Jesus and it is a great comfort to her family and friends that she is now at peace in heaven,” he said. Toowoomba Chronicle.
‘Although Frances was taken from her family too soon, she touched the lives of many people during her 49 years.’
He added that she had a “beautiful soul inside and out.”
Quality Life Psychology Services said she was “a much-loved and respected member” of its team.
“Frances always took the time to ask about others with kindness and consideration, often responding with humility and thoughtful humor,” the clinic said.
‘Frances was easy to be around and her gentle nature will be deeply missed, but she will long be remembered by her colleagues, friends and clients at Quality Life Psychology Services.
‘Our hearts and prayers are with the Frances family at this tragic time.’