On the day of the accident, Candi Reeve (victim), arrived at the company office in Hurricane at 7:00 a.m., where she met Todd Stratton, foreman, and Ron Jessop, roving utility man.  Stratton accompanied Reeve to the Rattlesnake Pit where he reinstructed her in operating the front-end loader and the wash plant.  Stratton observed Reeve's operation of the plant and loader.  He was satisfied with her performance, and left her alone to operate the plant at about 8:30 a.m.

Reeve failed to return to the company office at the end of the work day.  Clayton Stratton, president, became concerned and asked Jessop to drive to the mine to check on Reeve.  At about 4:00 p.m., Jessop arrived at the pit where he found Reeve caught in the tail pulley of the plant conveyor.

After checking the victim and finding no vital signs, Jessop drove to Todd Stratton's home nearby to notify him.  Jessop then phoned Clayton Stratton, who was on his way to the pit, and the local fire and rescue squad.

Emergency personnel arrived at the scene a few minutes later and transported the victim to the State Medical Examiner's office.  Death was attributed to asphyxiation, due to entanglement in the conveyor belt.