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COAL MINE FATALITY - On Tuesday, February 10, 2004, a 54-year old truck driver with 22 years of experience was fatally injured at a surface coal mine. The driver was descending the main mine access road in a Chevrolet (Kodiak) service truck when the braking system of the truck failed to control the truck. This resulted in the driver losing control of the truck and hitting a berm alongside a sediment pond. The truck traveled approximately 70 feet on the pond road and slid into the sediment pond.

Photo of Accident Scene

Best Practices

  • Maintain equipment braking systems.
  • Conduct pre-operational checks to identify any defects that may affect the safe operation of equipment before it is placed into service.
  • Know the trucks capabilities, operating ranges, load limits and safety features.
  • Routinely monitor work habits and examine work areas to ensure that safe work procedures are being followed.
    • 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 10th fatality charged to the coal mining industry in calendar year 2004. As of the accident date in 2003, there were five fatalities reported in coal mining. This is the third fatality classified as Powered Haulage in 2004. There was one Powered Haulage fatality at this time in 2003.

    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