Scoop operator 'devastated'; Redstone Mine victim was hit in mid-section by scoop tram

Posted By Michael Peeling

Posted 5 hours ago

The miner who died Saturday in Redstone Mine was hit by a piece of heavy equipment, according to the president of Liberty Mines.

While the victim's name has not been released, and won't be without consent of the family, the Edmonton-based mining company's president, Gary Nash, said the victim and a scoop-tram driver are experienced and capable miners.

"The operator thought it was clear to do his job like it always was and for some reason it wasn't," Nash told The Daily Press.

"When he went to scoop a load of material, he (hit) another miner ... I know the operator is just devastated."

The incident occurred around a mine depth of 1,350 feet at approximately 8 a.m.

Based on early reports, Nash believes ventilation and loose rock were not factors in the incident, but could only speculate as to what may have happened.

He wondered if the deceased man was already incapacitated in a way that would make it impossible for him to avoid the tram or alert the driver of his presence.

Members of the Ontario Provincial Police's South Porcupine detachment, forensic identification unit and crime unit are investigating the death along with the Ministry of Labour and the coroner's officer at the mine, which is located off Langmuir Road, 18 kilometres south of South Porcupine.

Ministry of Labour spokesman Bruce Skeaf relayed the latest incident report, which described injuries to the victim's mid-section from the impact of a six-yard scoop tram on the main ramp of the nickel mine.

"The worker was struck by (a scoop tram), suffered trauma to the mid-section and succumbed to his injuries at the scene," Skeaf said. "We have issued an order to freeze the scene."

OPP Const. Marc Depatie said a post-mortem examination of the miner went ahead as scheduled Monday in Sudbury, but the coroner's results will be released at a later date.

The scene of the accident has been released by the OPP to Liberty Mines, but Depatie said officers will continue to work with the Ministry of Labour to collect evidence and complete a thorough investigation.

No reason to suspect foul play has been found by the OPP during the investigation.

Once conclusions from the investigation have been reached, the OPP will issue a press release.

Nash said he plans on visiting the site and meeting with the victim's family on Wednesday.

"It's just so unfortunate for the operator and the family," Nash said. "I really can't say anymore because we don't know what happened.

"Even the operator doesn't know why this happened. If he did, it wouldn't have happened."

The president said the Redstone Mine had gone 726 days with no "lost-time incidents" up until the end of September.