Mechanic dies in accident while working on truck at Georgia dealership

A dealership mechanic died of blunt-force trauma this week when he was pinned against the wall by a vehicle he was working on.

Bradley Kastl, 36, was repairing a truck at Rivertown Ford in Columbus, Ga., on Wednesday. He and another mechanic were placing the box truck onto a lift when it surged suddenly and hit Kastl, Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan said.

There were only 47 inches of space between Kastl and the wall, and he died almost instantly upon impact. While the death is still being officially investigated, it is believed to be entirely accidental, Bryan said.

Kastl had a wife who is a doctor in the military and a 2-year-old child.

Bryan said he does about 1,200 death investigations a year, and few ever get to him, “but this one just broke my heart.”

A message on Rivertown Ford’s voicemail said the dealership was closed because of emergency maintenance, and no one there could be reached for comment.