(Radio Iowa) – A John Deere employee was hit and killed by a car early Wednesday morning, as he walked to join fellow strikers at the picket line near a John Deere facility in the Quad Cities. The incident happened before dawn in the middle of the intersection of a four-lane highway and Deere Drive — about half a mile from John Deere’s parts and distribution center in Milan. A union member said picketing was halted for the day at the Milan site, following the accident.

The victim was identified as 56-year old Richard Rich, of Moline, a 15-year employee of Deere’s facility in Milan. A preliminary autopsy showed Rich died from multiple traumatic chest injuries.

The U-A-W and Deere issued statements of condolence to the man’s family, friends and co-workers. Milan’s police chief told The Des Moines Register there is no cross walk at the intersection and the evidence suggests the driver did not commit a traffic violation.