A man fatally pinned under a car outside his home has been identified as a longtime educator who chaired the Columbia Heights school board, and taught English and directed theater.
Keith S. Roberts, 58, was injured on July 31 at his home in the 1100 block of 44½ Avenue NE. and died at Hennepin County Medical Center on Aug. 8 in what the medical examiner's office is calling an accident.
Roberts was under the car at the end of the driveway, with the back protruding into the street, according to Anoka County Sheriff's Cmdr. Paul Sommer. The car, which was having mechanical trouble, was in reverse and its engine off, Sommer added.
Given there were no witnesses, "we can only speculate at this time what may have happened," the commander said, "but it appears ... the car rolled backwards with him behind it."
Roberts served on the school board from 1997 until falling short in pursuit of a fifth term in the 2012 election. He also founded the Columbia Heights Fine Arts Foundation six years ago and directed its summer plays.
At the time of his death, Roberts was an English teacher at Coon Rapids Middle School. He also was an assistant speech coach at Centennial and Anoka high schools.
He previously taught at Ortonville High School in western Minnesota in a career in the classroom that lasted more than 30 years.
Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482
