Oregon man struck and killed in Kalama

A 23-year-old Oregon man died Wednesday morning after being struck by a tractor-trailer on the site of a Kalama business, Cowlitz County authorities said.

Harold J. Cozine, of Dayton, Ore., was walking southbound on CHS, Inc., alongside the tractor-trailer when it began moving northbound, witnesses told authorities. Cozine looked west and then stepped back putting him between the two moving trailers, according to witnesses.

The rear trailer struck Cozine and both axels rode over him, causing fatal injuries, Cowlitz County authorities said. The accident happened around 8:16 a.m. CHS, Inc., is located at 400 Toteff Road off Interstate 5.

Cozine was not working at the site, authorities said, but had been a passenger in another tractor-trailer.

Driver Jamie A. Strull, 50, of McMinnville, Ore., was not aware Cosine stepped between his moving trailers, authorities said.

Washington State Police cited Strull for two commercial vehicle operator license compliance issues following a commercial vehicle inspection. However, Strull will not face criminal charges because the issues were not contributing factors to Cozine’s death, Cowlitz County authorities said.