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

Outside trucker attempted to adjust the brakes on a dump truck. They failed to secure the vehicle. The truck moved forward while the trucker was in between the tandem wheels and ran them over.

On September 16, 2020, at approximately 10:25 a.m., Mehmet Bayram, a 47-year-old truck driver, with 20 years of over-the-road experience and three years at this mine, died after the truck he was operating struck him. Bayram crawled under his truck to repair the brakes while the engine was running. The parking brake was not set, the transmission was in drive, and the truck was not blocked against motion.

1. The truck engine was running, the parking brake was not set, the transmission was in drive, and the wheels were not blocked before work was performed under the truck.

   Corrective action: The mine operator moved the sign that instructs truck drivers to remain in their trucks at all times to a location closer to the entrance to the mine property. The mine operator also installed two additional signs that say the same thing. These signs inform drivers to contact mine management and remain in their vehicles in the event of a breakdown or other issue.

Read the full report (PDF)

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

Activity at time of incident

Machine Maintenance

Subunit / location

DREDGE

Accident type

Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary 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

20 years

Experience at this mine

3 years

Experience in this job

3 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY