A U.S. Postal Service employee in Brooklyn Center was struck and killed by a semitrailer truck Tuesday morning in what is being called a workplace accident, police said.

About 7:25 a.m., the truck was backing into the loading dock of the post office at 6848 Lee Av. N. when it hit the employee, said Brooklyn Center Police Cmdr. Tim Gannon.

The employee who died was on foot at the time of the incident. That person's identity has not been released.

Police did not say whether the worker was a man or a woman, or what the employee's position was.

The truck driver, who has not been identified, has been cooperative with investigators and has consented to a blood test, Gannon said.

Foul play is not suspected and there is no reason to believe that drugs or alcohol played a role in the incident, he said.

"It is a terrible accident," Gannon said.

Brooklyn Center police, state and federal authorities, and representatives from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating.

The incident took place in a back parking lot that is not accessible to the public.

The post office remained open.

Tim Harlow • 612-673-7768