Thorsby Police and city officials are continuing to investigate the tragic death of Thorsby city employee Jeremy McDonald on Thursday.

McDonald, 29, a five-month employee of the town, was cutting grass near the ballparks near Jones Street when apparently he lost the lawnmower he was driving, resulting in the lawnmower flipping, crushing McDonald beneath.

Chilton County Deputy Coroner Awlahjaway Agee, who declared McDonald dead at the scene, said he died of blunt force trauma and internal injuries.

“This is so tough on his family, and we feel their pain,” Thorsby Mayor Dearl Hilyer said, adding that McDonald was always “very polite and a very good guy.”

Hilyer said town employees were given the opportunity to meet with two grief counselors brought in from Shelby County.

“We will miss him tremendously,” Hilyer said. “It was immediate with everyone in the town that he was no longer with us. Personality wise, he was fun to be around and would always make you laugh.”

Hilyer said the town’s police department was leading the investigation, with the assistance of the Chilton County Sheriff’s Department.

Rockco’s Funeral Home in Montevallo was scheduled to handle the arrangements, although those plans had not been finalized.