Kentucky is reporting the nation’s first mine death of 2008.
The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration says an eastern Kentucky coal truck driver died Tuesday at Blue Ridge surface mine in Perry County. The mine is operated by the Cumberland River Coal Company.
The driver was not immediately identified. MSHA spokesman Amy Louviere says he died around 12:45 a.m. after his truck backed over a dumping point and continued to go down the slope.
The victim was employed by Bates Contracting in Whitesburg.
No other details were immediately available.
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