Springfield Park District employee dies after accident at golf course

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) -- An employee of the Springfield Park District was killed on Thursday in what was described as a "workplace accident." The accident happened at the maintenance building of Lincoln Greens Golf Course. Jim Allmon, the Sangamon County Coroner, said a 51-year-old Park District employee was found under a mower and was transported by EMS to the emergency room of HSHS St. John's Hospital. He was pronounced dead by hospital staff at 11:24 a.m., shortly after arrival and less than an hour after the initial 911 call was placed. "This was an unfortunate, tragic accident. There's no criminal element to it," Patrick Murphy, Chief of the Springfield Park District Police, told WCIA. "However, a thorough investigation will still be done to verify preliminary findings." In a statement, the Park District said it was "shocked and deeply saddened" by what happened, adding that staff's thoughts and prayers are with the victim's family. Murphy and Allmon added that notifications of the victim's family are ongoing, and his name will not be released until those are complete. An autopsy has been scheduled for Friday morning. The death investigation is being conducted by Allmon's office and the Springfield Park District Police Department.