Haul/Off Road/Coal/Ore/Pit/Quarry/Rock/Rubber Tire Truck Driver

IDS driver was instructed by Lynch to dump employee's load under unsafe conditions. The berm that the Lynch operator constructed was inadequate/non-existent due to the pile being dug into by Lynch from below. This caused the earth to fall away under back tires. End dump rolled down embankment flipping and landing on its roof. Employee was pronounced dead at the hospital.

On September 8, 2025, at 7:12 a.m., Steven DiTomasso, a 73-year-old contract haul truck driver with over 13 years of experience, died when the ground under his haul truck collapsed, causing it to overturn backwards and come to rest at the base of the ¾-inch processed granite stockpile (stockpile). The accident occurred because the mine operator did not: 1) ensure the contract haul truck driver dumped a safe distance back from the edge of the unstable area of the stockpile, and 2) trim the stockpile face to prevent hazards.

1. The mine operator did not ensure the contract haul truck driver dumped material a safe distance back from the edge of the unstable area of the stockpile.

   Corrective action: The mine operator developed and implemented a new written procedure requiring miners to dump a safe distance back from the edge of stockpiles and the material to be pushed over the edge by a front-end loader, bulldozer, or excavator. The mine operator trained all miners in this procedure. Also, the mine operator will no longer use a contractor to operate their haul trucks. The mine operator hired two haul truck drivers from the local operating union to work at the mine and provided them with adequate task training for their assigned haul trucks.

2. The mine operator did not trim stockpile faces to prevent hazards.

   Corrective action: The mine operator trimmed the ¾-inch processed granite stockpile, returning the stockpile face to a natural angle of repose and preventing hazards to miners. Also, the mine operator developed and implemented a new written procedure requiring the stockpile face to be corrected immediately when evidence indicates it is becoming unstable. The mine operator trained all miners in this procedure.

Read the full report (PDF)

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

Activity at time of incident

Haulage Or Dump Truck

Subunit / location

STRIP, QUARY, OPEN PIT

Accident type

Struck against a 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

13 years

Experience at this mine

13 years

Experience in this job

13 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY