A contractor died at Peabody Coal's North Antelope Rochelle Mine in the Powder River Basin early Wednesday morning.
The contractor, whose name hasn't been released, died inside a hydraulic scoria crusher around 6 a.m., according to Amy Louviere, a spokeswoman for the Mine Safety and Health Administration.
“The crusher apparently started up and it ultimately crushed the miner,” Loviere said. “That victim was airlifted to a nearby medical facility and he is deceased.”
Louviere says local MSHA officials are on the scene and will be conducting a thorough investigation.
Peabody will also investigate, according to communications director Charlene Murdock, who expressed sadness over the miner’s death.
“The safety and well-being of all of our employees and contractors is our primary concern and we are deeply saddened by this incident,” Murdock said. “Our prayers and thoughts are with family and friends.”
Today’s death marks the seventh fatality in a coal mine facility so far this year in the U.S., and the first in Wyoming. Last year, two Wyoming miners died.