EAST MOLINE, Ill. (KWQC) - UPDATE 2/4 2:21 p.m.: The Rock Island County Coroner has released more information following the death of a FedEx worker in East Moline.
Officials tell TV6 William Murphy's preliminary cause of death was from a traumatic head injury due to a fall.
UPDATE 10:41 a.m.: The Rock Island County Coroner has identified the man as 69-year-old William L. Murphy, of Moline.
UPDATE 2/1 10:29 a.m.: Officials are investigating after a FedEx employee was found dead outside of the FedEx Freight Distribution in East Moline.
Officials say on Thursday, Jan. 31, they were called to the business at 9:24 a.m. The business is an LTL freight shipment facility that operates semi tractor-trailer combination vehicles and other similar shipment methods.
A coworker had discovered the body of a 69-year-old FedEx employee between two company semi tractors parked in a row. Officials say the 69-year-old was a semi driver for FedEx Freight and his personal vehicle was close to the scene.
The East Moline Police Department Investigation Division is conducting a death investigation. Officials say this will take some time to complete.
The cause of the man's death is not currently known and an autopsy has been scheduled for Monday, Feb. 4 by the Rock Island County Coroner's Office.
Officials say FedEx Freight was closed at that location on Wednesday, Jan. 30 due to the cold temperatures. Police right now are working with FedEx Corporate security to review facility access control logs and video surveillance to aid in the investigation.
Officials say at this time it is unknown at this time on what role the freezing temperatures played in the man's death. East Moline experienced snowfall, ice and snowpack conditions as well as subzero temperatures over the last 48 hours. The weather is being considered by investigators as a circumstance may have played a role in the death, but a cause of death will not be available until after the autopsy next week.
The case is still under investigation by the East Moline Police Department and the Rock Island County Coroner's Office.
Anyone with information about this incident can call the East Moline Police Department at 309-752-1545.
ORIGINAL: The Rock Island County Coroner, Brian Gustafson, tells TV6 a 69-year-old male Fedex worker's body was found Thursday morning laying next to a FedEx semi.
Gustafson says, "It is unclear if weather played a part in the death".
Officials say the death is being investigated by the East Moline Police and the Rock Island County Coroner's office.
An autopsy has tentatively been scheduled for Monday.
Slips, trips and falls are the leading cause of death or injury of workers and all people, in fact.
Statistics show that the majority (67%) of falls happen on the same level resulting from slips and trips. The remaining 33% are falls from a height.
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MOLINE, Illinois –
William Lee “Bill” Murphy, 69, of Moline, formerly of Kewanee, died January 31, 2019 in East Moline.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, February 9 at Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee. Rev. Dr. William R. Toliver will officiate. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home. Burial will be in Pleasant View Cemetery where military rites will be accorded by the Kewanee Veterans Council. Memorials may be directed to the family for a memorial to be established.
He was born November 8, 1949 in Peoria, the son of Wilmer G. and Mabel L. (Ensley) Murphy. He first married Charlene A. Brown and together they had two children, Shannon and Greg Murphy, both of Kewanee, he latered married Pamela Murphy and together they had three children; Tony (Amanda) Murphy of Davenport, IA, Tim (Gail) Johnson of Cambridge and Cricket Murphy of LaFayette and he then married Patricia S. Wiley and they later divorced. Other survivors include two step-children, Toby Wiley and Tyna Hart, three brothers; Gary Murphy, Dave Murphy and Dennis Murphy, all of Kewanee, three sisters; Pat Murphy, Donna Schwigen and Dawn Peed, all of Kewanee, grandchildren; Shelbi, Aleigh, Gunner, Tucker, Brooklyn, Abigail, Mabel, Marissa, Ashlyn, Lilly and Wiley and a great granddaughter, Paislee. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Mike and Randy, two sisters, Sandy and Sheila and a brother in infancy.
Bill served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was a truck driver for FedEx. He enjoyed riding motorcycles and loved to work. He especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.