Weighman

EE was involved in a traffic accident on the road that leads to the plant. EE was extricated from the vehicle and transported to the hospital where EE later died.

On January 17, 2023, at 2:51 a.m., Kenneth Colindres, a 47 year-old weigh master with 19 years of experience, died while driving his personal vehicle on the mine access road. Colindres’ personal vehicle crossed into oncoming traffic and collided head on with an over-the-road haul truck. The accident occurred because the mine operator did not conduct maintenance on the mine road prior to the accident when inclement weather conditions were present.

1. The mine operator did not conduct maintenance on the mine road prior to the accident when inclement weather conditions were present.

   Corrective action: The mine operator developed and implemented a new written procedure to include:• Daily entrance road examinations, and documenting and correcting hazards identified during the examinations.• Monitoring weather forecasts and proactively applying anti-skid and/or deicing material to roadways.The mine operator trained all miners expected to perform these tasks.

Read the full report (PDF)

Findings from MSHA's final investigation report, which supersedes the preliminary narrative above.

Activity at time of incident

Travel

Subunit / location

MILL OPERATION/PREPARATION PLANT

Accident type

Struck against a moving object

Source of injury

PASS CARS,PICKUP TRUCKS

Nature of injury

UNCLASSIFIED,NOT DETERMED

Body part affected

HEAD,NEC

Total mining experience

19 years

Experience at this mine

19 years

Experience in this job

19 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY