COAL MINE FATALITY - On Tuesday, March 14, 1995, a truck
driver was fatally injured when the truck he was driving up an
ascending 10 percent grade rolled backwards and turned over. The
truck was loaded with rock, and it was making it's fourth trip of
the day, but this driver was making his first. The driver was
heard shouting over the two-way radio that "this truck has no
brakes." An eyewitness saw the truck rolling backwards down the
grade, and the victim was last seen in the door apparently trying
to jump from the truck. The truck ended up on its side with the
victim pinned beneath the cab. The damage to the cab was limited,
and it is possible that the victim could have survived had he
remained in the cab.
The victim had two weeks experience on this job, and he had
demonstrated the ability to drive the truck to experienced
drivers who had accompanied him on some trips.
The investigation is continuing into the question of why the
brakes did not stop the loaded truck from rolling backwards down
the grade. The driver who made the other three trips with the
truck stated that the brakes were working.
This is the fifth coal mine fatality in 1995. As of March 14
last year, there had been nine fatalities. This death is the
fourth classified as POWERED HAULAGE in 1995.
Photograph of the accident scene
For more information:
MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report [FTL95C05]