Water truck driver Jason Kawcak, who had just 31 weeks experience, was working at the Colowyo surface complex in Craig, Moffat County. He lost control of the vehicle in an active work area July 14.

“The truck struck a berm on the right side of the roadway, traveled across the roadway, struck an embankment on the left side of the roadway and overturned, ending up facing opposite the original direction of travel,” the US Mine Safety and Health Administration said its preliminary findings.

“The victim was found ejected from the truck.”

In hopes of preventing similar incidents at other mines, MSHA stressed the importance of training all employees on proper procedures, hazard recognition and avoidance, berm use, and to conduct pre-operational checks on all units before placing them into service.

Investigators said those individuals getting behind the wheel should always wear a seat belt and also know the vehicle’s capabilities, operating ranges, load limits and safety features before operation.

Once in motion, MSHA pointed out, drivers should maintain control at all times, account for weather conditions, downshift on descent and observe posted speed limits, traffic rules and road grading signage.

Operations should construct berms to proper strengths and geometries for the site and ensure the grades and road conditions were appropriate to the type of equipment in use.

Finally, MSHA said, mines had to keep equipment braking and steering systems in good order.

“Never rely on engine brakes and transmission retarders as substitutes for keeping brakes properly maintained,” officials said.

Kawcak’s death was the 11th in US coal this year, and the first in Colorado.

It also was the first powered haulage death of 2012.

According to federal data, the Colowyo surface bituminous mine, owned by Western Fuels and Tri-State Generation and Transmission, produced more than 2.5 million tons of coal in 2011 without any non-fatal days lost or operator or contractor injuries.