Friends and family members of local mechanic Charles Mullins were in a deep sense of mourning Wednesday as Mullens was found dead underneath a van he had been working on.

Mullens had not responded to calls for two days, which prompted friends to check on him. It was then they found Mullens body underneath the van.

Marengo County Coroner Stuart Eatmon said relatives became concerned when they tried to contact Mullens and were unable to reach him.

“His brother said that he had tried to contact him several times Monday night and couldn’t get him,” Eatmon said. “We had several other people who said they had tried to contact him and couldn’t get up with him.”

Eatmon said Mullens was probably trapped beneath the vehicle for some time before passing away Tuesday afternoon.

“I would estimate that he died sometime around 1 p.m.,” Eatmon said. “We were not able top pronounce him dead until about 10:20 p.m., but I believe he probably passed around 1 p.m.”

When Mullens was discovered paramedics arrived on the scene Tuesday night and pronounced him dead on the scene.

The accident is believed to have happened when a scissor jack that Mullens was using to keep the van suspended collapsed leaving him trapped underneath.