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Women Killed in Mine Accidents

R-D Mac
R-D Mac Powered Haulage Fatality

La Grande, Union County, Oregon
October 21, 2002
No. Killed - 1

MSHA Final Investigation Report  External Link

Other Woman Killed in Mine Accidents


Description of Accident

On the day of the accident, Judith D. Beeson (victim) reported to work at 6:30 a.m., her normal starting time.  Beeson inspected the haul truck she was going to operate and was assigned to haul material from the No. 2 pit area to the crusher for processing.

At about 2:30 p.m., Charles Hanson, crusher foreman, discovered problems with the screen unit and shut the crusher down.  Hanson instructed Beeson to haul topsoil for the remainder of the shift.  Beeson drove to the No. 2 pit and informed Connie R. Goff, excavator operator, of the change.  Goff loaded the truck and Beeson drove to the dumpsite at the south side of the No. 1 pit.

As Beeson backed the truck toward the berm of the dump area, the ground underneath the truck collapsed.  The truck slid down the embankment and overturned, coming to rest in the water.  Beeson was removed from the truck cab and transported by ambulance to the hospital where she passed away on October 25, 2002.




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