COLUMBIA, MO. -- Update: July 8 at 5:00 p.m.:
A Columbia Parks and Recreation employee was accidently killed on Friday morning.
City officials said William Bell, 23, died after being trapped between the cab and bed of a dump truck.
The accident happened about 8:30 a.m. at a work site along the MKT Trail near Forum Boulevard.
Bell was in the process of spreading gravel for a construction road.
Bell was a college student who worked for the Columbia Parks and Recreation Department as a part-time seasonal employee.
Bell has been driving the same dump truck since his start in 2007.
Bell was alone when he became trapped.
Parks Services Manager Mike Griggs said, “Right now, our main concern is for the family and for our employees. Will is not only a good employee, but a great friend to several of us. As a 5-year employee, we all got to know him pretty well.”
The investigation into the accident is ongoing and is being conducted by both the police and the City of Columbia’s risk management departments.
This was the first on the job death in the history of the Columbia Parks and Recreation Department.
Update: July 8 at 4:00 p.m.:
Columbia authorities have released the name of the man killed in an accident Friday morning.
William Bell was driving a single-axle dump truck and was spreading gravel when the accident happened. He died after being trapped between the cab and the bed of the dump truck.
Bell was a part-time seasonal employee for the Parks and Rec division.
Update: July 8 at 12:05 p.m.:
Columbia Parks and Rec released the following statement about the death of an employee in an accident Friday morning:
"We are shocked and saddened at the loss of a Parks and Recreation employee this morning. The accident occurred at a work site along the MKT Trail.
The investigation into the accident is ongoing. Questions at this time regarding the investigation should be directed to the police department. More information will be released once the family members have been notified. We cannot comment on the investigation right now, but we can say we value the safety of our employees over everything else.
Right now our main concern is for the family and for our employees. We are providing counseling through the City's Employee Assistance Program for those employees who would like assistance.
We ask that you keep the family in your thoughts."
Original Story:
A Columbia City employee was killed in a car accident Friday morning.
Columbia Police said the accident happened at Colony Drive and Forum Boulevard just before 8:40 Friday morning.
Police said the emplyee worked in the Columbia Parks and Rec division. The name is being withheld pending notification of the family.
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