ST. PETER — Authorities have found the body of a missing Minnesota Department of Transportation worker whose backhoe was pulled into floodwaters in south-central Minnesota.

The Nicollet County Sheriff’s Office says searchers recovered the body of 39-year-old Michael Struck of Cleveland about 12:45 p.m. Wednesday. His body was found in about 10 feet of water about 25 feet from Highway 169. The Ramsey County medical examiner will conduct an autopsy.

Struck, a nine-year MnDOT employee, had been clearing debris near Seven Mile Creek Tuesday when his backhoe tipped and he fell into floodwaters between St. Peter and Mankato.

Sheriff’s deputies and Department of Natural Resources officers spent Tuesday and Wednesday in boats slowly looking around Seven Mile Creek Park.