Preliminary Report - Fatality #3 - February 11, 2011

On Friday, February 11, 2011 at approximately 2:00 pm, a service truck and a Model 632G, Caterpillar scraper collided on the haul road in J21 Pit, Ramp 38 area resulting in fatal injuries to the service truck operator. Upon impact, diesel fuel in the service Truck's cargo tank ignited, engulfing the truck in flames. Two 20-pound fire extinguisher were initially used unsuccessfully to fight the fire. Approximately 35,000 gallons of water, provided by two water trucks, were directed at the fire before the fire was extinguished at 3:30 pm. The fiberglass cab of the truck was incinerated and the truck totally destroyed by the flames.