A tragic accident claimed the life of a Fort Russell Township highway worker Wednesday, according to the Madison County Coroner's Office.

Dennis D. Goebel, 62, of Dorsey, was killed when he was accidentally backed over by a township truck. Although no witnesses saw the accident, Goebel was found by co-workers underneath a 1988 International Dump Truck belonging to the township.

Goebel was part of the township highway department crew performing culvert repair at Maple Street and Oak Drive in the community of Meadowbrook, just east of Bethalto.

He was pronounced dead at the scene by Madison County Coroner's Investigator Todd R. Ballard at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. The incident was initially reported to 9-1-1 at 12:48 p.m.

An autopsy conducted Thursday on Goebel determined he died of "compression asphyxiation," according to Madison County Coroner Stephen Nonn. Compression asphyxiation is a term that refers to when a person's lungs can't expand due to compression of the torso.

The Madison County Sheriff's Department continues to investigate the incident.

Funeral arrangements for Goebel are pending.