The Colbert County, Alabama Coroner was killed in a traffic accident Monday in downtown Florence.

According to the Times Daily newspaper, 39 year-old Carlton Utley died after being pinned beneath a trailer in the Court Street area near the University of North Alabama campus.

A family member driving a pickup truck and pulling a utility trailer dropped Utley off at a red light, said authorities. The driver was unaware that Utley was between the truck and trailer as the truck began moving forward. Utley was pulled under the trailer and dragged almost half a mile before a passerby flagged down the driver to tell him something was being dragged under the trailer.

Utley was in his third term as county coroner.

The accident is under investigation by Florence Police.