Fatality #8 - May 3, 2008

METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY - On May 3, 2008, a 51 year-old mine owner with 45 weeks experience was fatally injured at a surface sand and gravel operation. He was working alone, operating an excavator on the water-covered floor of the pit, attempting to clean a clogged drainage ditch. When the victim moved the excavator, one of the crawler tracks fell into an 8-foot deep sump hole that was not visible due to the high water. The excavator fell on its side, trapping him inside the cab.