đź•‘3 min read
More information has surfaced about the workplace accident that killed a longtime United Auto Workers (UAW) member at a Stellantis-leased property in Center Line, Michigan, over the weekend.Â
According to a follow-up report from Luke Ramseth of The Detroit News, James Brasher was helping clear old office furniture and decommissioned equipment from a second-story loading area at the Center Line National Parts facility when he fell through an open roll-up door.
Former Mopar World Headquarters in Center Line, Michigan in August 2026. (MoparInsiders).
What Authorities Say Happened
In this articleâ–ľ
What Authorities Say Happened
Safety Harness Was Not Connected
More Than 30 Years With The UAW
Another Tragic Stellantis Workplace Death
Center Line public safety personnel were called to the facility at approximately 5:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 1. Investigators believe the 57-year-old laborer fell roughly 25 feet from the second floor into a large dumpster positioned on the ground below the opening.
Center Line Director of Public Safety Paul Myszenski told The Detroit News that Brasher appeared to strike his head on the dumpster during the fall and was killed instantly.
Michigan’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) opened an investigation into the fatal incident. In its brief public description, the agency stated exactly: “The victim fell approximately 25 feet into the bin.”
Safety Harness Was Not Connected
Authorities said Brasher was wearing a safety harness while working near the open loading door. However, Myszenski said the harness was not connected to the safety tether that could have stopped or limited the fall.
That detail will likely be a major part of the continuing investigation. MIOSHA and the Center Line Department of Public Safety are examining the circumstances surrounding the work, the fall-protection equipment being used, and how the job was being carried out.
At this point, investigators have not announced any final conclusions or assigned responsibility. The investigation remains open.
Former Mopar World Headquarters in Center Line, Michigan in August 2026. (MoparInsiders).
More Than 30 Years With The UAW
Brasher had been a UAW member for more than three decades and belonged to UAW Local 1248. Union officials previously identified him as a laborer assigned to a renovation project at the property.
The office building where the work was taking place formerly housed Mopar administrative operations. Stellantis later moved those employees to its Auburn Hills campus, leaving the Center Line office space unoccupied.
Another Tragic Stellantis Workplace Death
Brasher’s death follows two other fatal workplace incidents involving Stellantis operations in the region during the past two years. Antonio Gaston, 53, died at the Toledo Assembly Complex in August 2024. Ronald Adams Sr., 63, was killed at the Dundee Engine Complex in April 2025.
For now, Brasher’s family, coworkers, and fellow Local 1248 members are waiting for answers. MIOSHA investigations can take time, but the details released so far show how quickly a routine cleanup or renovation job can turn deadly when work is being performed around an elevated opening.
Source: The Detroit News
Robert S. Miller