The Lewis County Coroner’s Office has released the name of the Braun Northwest Inc. worker who was struck and killed by another employee while working under a vehicle earlier this month.
Karl J. Keller II, 65, of Chehalis, died of blunt force trauma and his manner of death was accidental, according to the coroner’s office.
The incident occurred the morning of Friday, Aug. 2, at the ambulance manufacturer and medical supply store’s headquarters at 150 Northstar Road in Chehalis.
“There was an incident involving two employees, one was under a vehicle while the other did not know and unfortunately ran him over,” Lewis County Sheriff’s Office Special Services Chief Gabriel Frase told a Chronicle reporter at the scene.
The Washington state Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) is in the process of completing a workplace fatality assessment and control evaluation (WA FACE) of Braun Northwest Inc., an employee confirmed Thursday.
The evaluation, which could take up to six months to complete, is voluntary for employers and is focused on finding the root cause of the incident, according to L&I’s website.
“We are heartbroken by this event and are committed to working closely with Labor and Industries, as well as the sheriff's office, to fully understand what happened,” Braun Northwest Inc. owner John Braun said the day of the incident. “Our prayers and heartfelt condolences go out to the family and loved ones. Our thoughts are also with the coworkers who are deeply affected by this loss, and we stand together to support each other during this incredibly difficult time.”
Once completed, the WA FACE evaluation of Braun Northwest Inc. will be publicly available online at https://www.lni.wa.gov/safety-health/safety-research/ongoing-projects/work-related-fatalities-face#fatality-investigation-reports.
