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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Missouri senators have endorsed legislation intended to replenish an insolvent state fund for injured workers.

Senators gave initial approval Tuesday night to a bill that would raise fees on businesses and narrow the type of future injuries covered by the Second Injury Fund. The fund has a $25 million deficit, which is expected to grow unless lawmakers take action.

The Second Injury Fund was created 70 years ago to cover disabled employees who suffer a second work-related injury or illness.

The legislation also seeks to reverse recent court rulings that concluded occupational diseases are not required to be covered by the workers' compensation system. The bill says they are, and it sets limits on how much money can be awarded for exposure to toxins like asbestos.

The death of Godfrey, Illinois man is being called a tragic accident.

Madison County Coroner Stephen Nonn says 78 year old Richard Gonzales was killed Tuesday afternoon in the driveway of a relative's home in Alton. Crews were called to the home in the 3300 block of Lincoln about 2:30 p.m.

Nonn says Gonzales had apparently tried to exit his car before putting it in park. When the car started rolling, he tried to get back inside to stop it, but was pinned between the open door and a fence.

Rescue crews tried to resuscitate him at the scene, but Gonzales was pronounced dead at the hospital.

His family says they believe the accident happened while he'd been delivering Valentine Day cards to family members, as was his custom on holidays.

Developer Paul McKee will be in Jefferson City Tuesday, trying to save his stalled NorthSide Regeneration project. The McEagle Properties chairman will ask the House Economic Development Committee to extend the tax credit program he's been using to amass land for the project.

The $95 million Distressed Areas Land Assemblage credit was passed in 2007 and will expire this August.

McKee's company has received more than $40 million so far and amassed 2,200 parcels of land in north St. Louis for the project. But McKee told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he's needs to buy another 500 parcels for contiguous sites.

The NorthSide project calls for new and refurbished homes, retail and manufacturing space, along with schools and medical facilities on a two square mile area just north of downtown.