Crane Operator

Employee was fatally injured when they fell beneath the wheels of a tractor trailer. The tractor-trailer was being towed out by a bulldozer, since said truck-trailer was stuck in the sand. Victim was last seen standing 20-30 ft away, as bulldozer began to pull truck out of sand, walking toward the truck and trailer.

Neil P. Witte, a 34-year-old contract Crane Operator with Northwest Crane Services, LLC (Northwest), with 11 years total mining experience, died on June 24, 2019, while assisting in the removal of a rigging truck stuck in the sand. The victim approached the moving truck and was fatally injured when he was crushed by the truck’s tires.

1. The victim approached the moving vehicle without ensuring the equipment operator was aware of his close proximity and his intentions for approaching the equipment.

   Corrective action: The contractor provided additional training to all contractor employees on notifying equipment operators before approaching equipment.

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

Activity at time of incident

Walking, Running

Subunit / location

DREDGE

Accident type

Struck by powered moving object

Source of injury

HGHWY ORE CARIER,LRGE TRK

Nature of injury

CRUSHING

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

10 years

Experience in this job

10 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY