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Johnson County truck driver drowned in Iowa River, medical examiner says
May. 12, 2011 7:15 pm
The driver of a dump truck that rolled into the Iowa River earlier this week died after drowning in the river, according to Johnson County Medical Examiner Dr. Stephen Scheckel.
"The cause of death is listed as drowning," Scheckel said. "It is also listed as an accident."
Timothy Russell, 53, of Iowa City was found dead on Monday after a witness reported that a truck had flipped into the Iowa River just south of Iowa City. When rescue crews arrived at the scene they found Russell dead in the truck.
There was speculation from friends and police that Russell may have suffered a heart attack before the crash, but Scheckel said the only cause of death that will be listed on the death certificate is "drowning."
A dump truck tipped into the Iowa River south of Iowa City Monday morning. (KCRG-TV9)

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