FIFE, Wash. — A man died Friday evening after he fell into a storm drain at a Fife apartment complex, investigators said.
According to police, a man was throwing his garbage away at the Bella Sonoma Apartments where he accidentally dropped his keys in the storm drain next to the trash compactor.
The man lifted the grate, reached in to retrieve his keys and fell in head first.
A neighbor found the man stuck and immediately called 911.
Crews rushed to the scene, and Tacoma firefighters were able to pull the man out.
The man was rushed to the hospital, but later died.
“The keys were at the bottom of the drain so we were able to pull those out. We don’t know if he lost his balance or what happened. We have no way to know,” said Fife Police Lt. Tom Thompson.
Investigators said the incident is an accident.
KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reporter James Schugel spoke with neighbors who lived in the complex.
“Ordinarily, throwing the trash away is not a scary thing, but that’s an awful thing to hear,” said resident David Rhea.
Officials said the grate above the storm drain was heavy, and it’s not safe to move grates due to the rain.
The Pierce County Medical Examiner will release the identity of the man Saturday evening.
KIRO
