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COAL MINE FATALITY - On Friday, November 16, 2007, at 8:50 p.m., a 66-year old truck driver was fatally injured while attempting to dump spoil. The truck over-traveled the edge of the dump and rolled down the spoil slope approximately 70 feet and came to rest upside down in a pool of water approximately 6 feet deep. Miners attempted to rescue the driver but were unable to open the truck doors. A track hoe was used to lift the truck out of the water but the victim drowned prior to the rescue. The victim was wearing his seat belt. He had 1 week 3 days total mining experience operating the dump truck.

Photo of Accident Site


Best Practices
  • Provide and maintain adequate berms and other barriers of mid-axel height for dump sites.
  • Routinely monitor work habits and examine work areas to ensure that safe work procedures are followed.
  • Ensure equipment operators receive proper task training.
  • Ensure work areas are properly illuminated at night.
  • Conduct pre-operational checks of equipment before placing into operation.
  • Use seat belts when operating equipment.
More Information E-mail Suggestion for Accident Prevention Program Submit your own suggestion for a remedy to prevent this type of accident in the future.
Please specify if you wish your submission to be anonymous or whether your name may be used. Please include the year of the fatality and the fatality number.


This is the 28th fatality reported in calendar year 2007 in the coal mining industry. As of this date in 2006, there were 45 fatalities reported in the coal mining industry. This is the third powered haulage fatality in 2007. At this time in 2006, there were eight fatalities in this classification.

The information provided in this notice is based on preliminary data ONLY and does not represent final determinations regarding the nature of the incident or conclusions regarding the cause of the fatality.


For more information:
Fatal Alert Bulletin Icon MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report



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