US Mine Safety and Health Administration spokesperson Amy Louviere told ILN that the victim, identified by local newspaper the Trinidad Times Independent as 24-year-old Jerry DeVaul, was working with another miner driving through rock at the slope down to the coal seam at the Bates Portal.

The slope is currently under development, having progressed only about 285 feet so far.

“They had problems with one of the jacklegs and one miner walked back outside and brought a replacement jackleg drill in the bucket of an Eimco 915 scoop,” Louviere said.

“As he approached the face of the entry which is down dip, the other miner waved him to stop uphill a little and turned around and went back to drilling. The scoop operator said he hit the brake to stop, then his foot slipped of the pedal and he couldn’t get his foot back on the brake to stop before the bucket struck the driller from behind.”

No information on the victim’s condition was available Tuesday, and owner Cline Mining did not issue a public statement on the incident prior to press time.