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COAL MINE FATALITY - On Friday, July 27, 2001, a 49 year old contract truck driver, with 30 years experience, parked his truck near the coal stock pile of an underground mine. He placed an improvised metal stand underneath the rear of the truck in order to lever the truck off the ground as the bed was raised. When the truck had achieved enough ground clearance to facilitate work underneath, the contractor began working on his truck with the bed in a raised position. The truck rolled backwards and slipped off the stand pinching him between the stand and the rear axle of the truck. The victim was found sitting on the ground under the rear end of the truck with the engine idling. The victim sustained crushing injuries to the chest area. The victim died as a result of these injuries on Friday, August 10, 2001.

Photo of Truck Bed on Barrel

Best Practices

  • Turn the engine off, place the transmission in gear, set the park brake and always make sure the equipment is securely blocked against motion, before performing repair or maintenance work.


  • Never perform work under raised equipment until it is securely blocked in position. Do not depend on hydraulic systems to hold mobile equipment stationary during repairs or maintenance.
  • 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 13th fatal accident, reported in calendar year 2001, in the coal mining industry. As of this date in 2000, there were sixteen fatalities reported in the coal mining industry. This is the third fatal accident, classified as Powered Haulage, reported in the coal mining industry in 2001. At this time in 2000, there were six fatal accidents, classified as Powered Haulage, in the coal mining industry.



    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