Dry dock worker killed by tugboat propeller

HARTFORD— A dry dock worker is dead after a four- to five-ton tugboat propeller fell onto him, knocking him into the Mississippi River.

Hartford Fire Chief Dave Owens says the man was working at National Maintenance and Repair, which serves the river and rail industries.

Owens says another worker pulled the man from the water after the accident Thursday evening. The workers were trying to resuscitate him when rescue crews arrived, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The man’s name hasn’t been released, pending notification of relatives.

Owens says the worker had been standing about five feet away from the water, which was below the dry dock surface, when the accident happened.

Hartford is in southwestern Illinois, about 15 miles northeast of St. Louis.