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Kentucky state Senator Johnnie Turner, recognized for his strong support of the coal industry and other initiatives in his Appalachian district, has passed away at the age of 76 following injuries he received at home last month after falling into an empty swimming pool while riding a lawn mower.

Turner, a Republican from Harlan, was known for his approachable demeanor, which endeared him to both constituents and colleagues. He died Tuesday evening after a “hard-fought battle” with the injuries sustained in the accident, as stated by Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers on Wednesday, CBS News reported.

“Johnnie spent his life lifting others — whether through his service in the U.S. Army, as a member of the State House of Representatives and State Senate, or in his private legal practice,” Stivers said in a statement reported by CBS.

“His unwavering commitment to the people of eastern Kentucky — his constituents, brothers and sisters in Christ, whom he so fondly referred to as ‘his people’ — was at the heart of everything he did,” Stivers added.

U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell reminisced about encountering Turner while he was back in his home state assessing the damage caused by flooding that affected parts of eastern Kentucky, the outlet said.

“Johnnie was on the scene, ankle-deep in mud, his equipment from home in tow, ready to help folks in Letcher County,” McConnell said Wednesday in a statement. “That’s just who he was: a good man who loved the mountains and its people.”

Kentucky Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer described Turner’s death as heartbreaking.

“He was just an amazing man of the mountains, who is kind and generous and open-minded about supporting initiatives that were good for the entire state while at the same time being a fierce advocate for his region,” Thayer said Wednesday in an interview with a local media outlet.

Turner advocated for pro-coal legislation and other initiatives aimed at supporting his Appalachian district, which encompasses several counties in eastern Kentucky. Once the backbone of the eastern Kentucky economy, coal employment has declined sharply over the past decade due to lower natural gas prices and stricter environmental regulations that have led electric providers to reduce their reliance on coal.

In August, CBS affiliate WYMT conducted an interview with Turner regarding his efforts to sustain the coal industry.

“This government trying to kill the coal industry — it ain’t going to happen in Kentucky, it just ain’t going to happen,” Turner told the station.

However, Turner looked beyond his district to support measures that would benefit the entire Bluegrass State, Thayer noted, highlighting Turner’s backing of a high-stakes horse racing bill a few years ago. This legislation secured the legal status of wagering on slots-style historical racing machines, which have become a lucrative revenue source for racetracks. It was a challenging vote for Turner, given that he represented a socially conservative district, CBS reported.

“He told me that he saw what happened to the coal industry in eastern Kentucky, and he didn’t want to see another leading industry — in this case, the horse industry — have the same thing happen to it,” Thayer said. “I really appreciate his courage on that.”

Turner served in the Kentucky House from 1999 to 2002. House Speaker David Osborne said Wednesday that Turner was an “ardent champion and passionate voice for eastern Kentucky.” He added: “We are saddened by his loss, but know that his legacy will live on in those he helped.”

Turner, an attorney, was elected to the state Senate in 2020, defeating a Democratic incumbent who shared his last name. This year, he won the Republican spring primary against two challengers.

Born on Christmas Eve in 1947, Turner was a native of Harlan County. He served in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1969 in the Panama Canal Zone, where he met his wife, Maritza, as reported by WYMT.

Due to the timing of his death, Turner’s name will still appear on the general election ballot, according to the secretary of state’s office. His only challenger for November, an independent candidate, has recently withdrawn from the race.

Write-in candidates have until Friday to file for the seat; otherwise, a special election will be required to fill the position, the secretary of state’s office confirmed, per CBS.

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