PORT ANGELES — The state Department of Labor and Industries and the Port Angeles Police Department this week will investigate the death of 38-year-old Timothy Eric Williams of Port Angeles.
Williams died Friday from injuries he suffered when a conveyor belt he was working on at Evergreen Fibre Inc. unexpectedly turned on in what is believed to be an accident, said Police Chief Terry Gallagher.
Police and Labor and Industries investigators will cooperate to determine the ultimate cause of the death, he said.
Williams was living in Port Angeles but also has some family in Forks, Gallagher said.
Port Angeles Fire Department paramedics took Williams to Olympic Medical Center after he was injured at 2:14 p.m. Friday.
He died later that day of internal injuries.
Gallagher said Port Angeles Police detectives will investigate how the piece of machinery was turned on and why.
“We have had no indication that this was anything more than a tragic accident,” he said.
“The focus of the investigation will be how that machine was turned on.
“That is the main question that we have not yet answered.”
Detectives working on the case could not be reached Sunday for more information.
Labor and Industries will also be investigating the workplace accident to see if proper procedures were followed.
The company at 404 Eclipse Industrial Parkway makes wood chips and sawdust.
Witnesses told police Williams was performing maintenance on a conveyer belt when the machine started.
He was working on the part that fell on him, police said.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
