Off-duty employee found dead at refinery; Refinery operations not involved, foul play not suspected

Two Roxana police officers secure a fence to property that houses a warehouse they had just searched Monday morning at the corner of Eighth Street and Old Edwardsville Road in Roxana, adjacent to the property of the Phillips 66-operated refinery where a body was found Monday morning on Heavy Haul Road at “L” Street on refinery property. A refinery spokesperson said the death was not caused by any refinery operations. less Two Roxana police officers secure a fence to property that houses a warehouse they had just searched Monday morning at the corner of Eighth Street and Old Edwardsville Road in Roxana, adjacent to the property ... more Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Off-duty employee found dead at refinery; Refinery operations not involved, foul play not suspected 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

Editor’s note: The Telegraph warns that some readers may find some details disturbing in this article.

ROXANA — A 45-year-old man was found dead early Monday morning at the Phillips 66 Wood River Refinery, authorities say.

The man, an off-duty employee of the refinery, was discovered by a passing truck driver on Heavy Haul Road at “L” Street on refinery property, Madison County Coroner Stephen P. Nonn stated in a news release. The facility spans across approximately 2,200 acres, according to the company’s website.

An investigation by the coroner’s office shows the man killed himself, the coroner announced in the release. Coroner’s investigator Shane P. Liley pronounced the man dead at the scene at 8:25 a.m. No foul play is suspected.

The man had apparently tied one end of a rope to a utility pole and the other end around his neck while seated behind the wheel of a Ford F-150 pickup truck. He then “rapidly accelerated” the vehicle forward, resulting in a mortal head and neck injury, according to the coroner’s report. The vehicle then crashed into a tree.

Interviews with people who knew the man said he had been suffering personal problems in recent days, the coroner reported. Toxicology testing for the presence of alcohol and drugs remains pending.

The man is believed to have died between 4:30 and 5:30 a.m. Monday, Roxana Police Chief Will Cunningham said. Police responded to the call just before 7 a.m. The coroner’s office and Roxana police are conducting an ongoing investigation into the incident. Illinois State Police Crime Scene Services also investigated the incident.

The company is cooperating with the Roxana Police Department and law enforcement agencies in the investigation, said refinery spokesperson Melissa Erker. The death was not connected with “refinery operations,” and production has not been impacted, she said.

“Clearly, our deepest sympathies go out to the friends and family of this individual who has passed away,” Erker said.

An initial report said the facility was on lockdown, but a spokesperson for the refinery said a lockdown was not implemented at any point.

Funeral arrangements remain pending under the direction of Paynic Home for Funerals in East Alton.

Reach Kelsey Landis at 618-208-6460 x 1396 or on Twitter @kelseylandis.