Man dies after crash at mine

A man died and three were injured after this vehicle rolled at Blackwater’s Curragh Mine yesterday.

Supplied By The RACQ Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service

A 55-YEAR-OLD contract miner died yesterday after a four-wheel-drive rolled and crashed at a Blackwater mine site.

He was one of four civil engineering contractors travelling in the vehicle when it overturned at Wesfarmers Curragh's coal mine site at 10.50am.

The miners worked for Salmon's Earthmoving Services, which has been working on construction of water storage dams at the mine for 18 months.

Initial reports suggested the man who died was trapped underneath the vehicle.

He suffered head injuries, multiple fractures and internal bleeding from the initial impact.

He was taken to Blackwater Hospital by road but it is believed he later suffered a cardiac arrest and staff were unable to revive him at 12.25pm.

The three other male occupants of the vehicle – a 23-year-old, a 51-year-old and a 30-year-old – were all treated at the scene for minor injuries.

The RACQ Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service also responded to the accident, having been called to the mine site at 11am.

It was redirected to Blackwater Hospital enroute but was not required to transport the deceased man.

Curragh Mine executive general manager Rod Bridges yesterday said the crash was being treated as a mine-site accident.

He said it appeared the driver lost control of the vehicle.

“It was a very good open, flat area with extremely good road conditions on a main haul road,” he told AAP.

“It's the first fatality that people can remember. We are very proud of our safety performance on site.”

Aerial photos taken by the rescue helicopter show circular tyre marks at the accident site, but Mr Bridges denies the contractors were doing “donuts” in the vehicle prior to the accident.

“I can confirm they were not skylarking,” Mr Bridges said.

“I visited the scene. There are no donuts on the scene.”

Mr Bridges expressed his sympathy for the deceased's family.

“Our hearts go out to the family and friends and we express our condolences and sympathy for them,” he said.

The Queensland Police Service, Department of Minerals and Energy and an on-site team are all investigating the accident.

Police were still on site at 5.10pm yesterday and are preparing a report for the coroner.

The mine will be closed until 6pm today as a sign of respect to the man's family.