LINCOLN, R.I. (AP) – A state Department of Transportation employee doing road repairs on Route 146 was killed Thursday when a dump truck backed into him, according to the state police.

The unidentified individual was working with two other transportation workers patching holes along a northbound section of Route 146 at Breakneck Hill Road. The victim was walking behind a small dump truck when it backed up, hitting him.

The worker was taken to Rhode Island Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at about 1:30 p.m.

State police said the driver of the small dump truck was told by another worker operating a “roller” machine stopped next to the truck to “take off” and go forward, but backed up instead.

The dump truck driver was taken to a hospital with chest pains.

The accident is under investigation. A message left with the state police was not immediately returned on Thursday.

AP-ES-10-06-05 1826EDT