Western State Hospital patient found dead at construction site identified
A patient from the Western State Hospital in Lakewood was found dead early Monday morning.
Construction crews who were working on the psychiatric hospital’s new forensic facility project found the patient, according to a statement provided by Washington State Department of Social and Health Services media relations manager Cynthia Shipley.
Lakewood police and the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office were on scene to investigate. A Lakewood police spokesman told The News Tribune it appeared the patient fell from a piece of construction equipment on site.
Pavel Vladimir Kolchik, 39, was identified by the Medical Examiner's office. His cause and manner of death is listed as “pending.” That is a temporary designation used when additional information is needed to make an official determination.
Hospital staff were searching for Kolchik since Sunday after he did not return from his court-ordered unescorted grounds privileges, the DSHS statement said.
The statement said leadership from DSHS’s Gage Center at the hospital has been in touch with his family and is going through the process that takes place when a patient dies unexpectedly.
“DSHS extends our condolences and offers our support to the family of the person who died in this tragic event as well as to our employees and partners. We will share more information if it is available,” the statement said.
The new facility would be built to have 350 new beds for forensic patients. Construction is slated to be completed between 2027 and 2029, according to the DSHS website.
