PORT ANGELES – A delivery driver died Thursday at the McKinley Mill in Port Angeles when 2 1500-pound paper bales he had transported fell from his truck when he opened the rear door.

Deputy Police Chief Jason Viada called in this report.

“Medics responded to the scene at about a quarter after one. The patient ended up being transported to the hospital where, tragically, he passed away. The police became involved because it was the investigation of the death that had happened and, it’s true that the Police Department investigation into this incident is closed, but it’s important to emphasize that our role in this was really to determine whether or not a homicide or a crime had occurred, and it doesn’t appear that a homicide or crime occurred.”

Viada says the investigation now shifts to the Coroner’s Office and state and/or federal authorities that deal with workplace accidents.