Local Construction Worker Killed in Jasper County

A local man was killed in a construction zone accident in Jasper County Tuesday morning.

Killed in the incident was 54-year-old Allan "Archie" Buenker of Heartville.  Buenker, a supervisor for Howell Asphalt, was working on a road improvement project along Illinois 33, one mile east of Wheeler.  Buenker was helping direct a dump truck driven by 71-year-old Robert Backhus of Effingham as it was backing in the east lane of the construction zone.  State police say at some point Backhus lost sight of Buenker and backed over him.

Jasper County Coroner Jason Meyer pronounced Buenker dead at the scene.  Backhus was not injured, but was taken to St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital in Effingham for evaluation.

Meyer said an autopsy into Buenker's death would take place Wednesday to determine the cause of death.

State police were assisted by IDOT representatives, Dieterich Fire Protection District, Jasper County Ambulance, and the Jasper County Coroner's Offce.