SILVIS, Ill. -- Chuck Austin, a former Rock Island alderman and 27-year long veteran volunteer at the John Deere Classic, died after an accident at TPC Deere Run on Friday, July 7.
JDC Tournament Chairman Clair Peterson said the accident happened around noon. He said he was not authorized to give any details of how the accident happened because it remains an ongoing investigation by the Silvis Police Department.
Around the time of the accident, medical personnel were dispatched to the golf course to attend to a victim who reportedly was pinned beneath a semi-truck in a golf cart.
Silvis Police issued a statement Friday afternoon confirming they responded to a "medical call" at the course and assisted volunteers with life-saving measures, but that the victim was pronounced dead on the scene.
Peterson said Austin, 68, was part of the operations teams affectionately known as the "grunt crew". He said PGA officials, people from John Deere, other volunteers and everyone who works on the tournament are devastated by the tragedy.
"It's a loss of a family member," he said.
The accident remains under investigation and there is an autopsy scheduled for early next week.
