TRAGIC EARLY MORNING CRASH AT QUEENSLAND COAL MINE..! – A passenger has lost his l!fe after a horrific crash at a Queensland coal mine in the early hours of the morning, while a second man remains in critical condition fighting for his l!fe.
A man has died and another is in a critical condition after a light vehicle was crushed by a mining truck near a central Queensland coal operation.
Emergency services were called to Moranbah in the Bowen Basin, 195 kilometres southwest of Mackay, just after 4.30am on Friday following reports a large truck backed over a vehicle.
One man was declared dead at the scene. Another suffered chest pain and leg injuries and was rushed to Moranbah Hospital with critical injuries.
A third person not involved in the crash suffered a medical episode while paramedics were responding and was flown to Mackay hospital, emergency services said.
A Queensland Police spokesperson told the Daily Mail the forensic crash unit will help investigate the fatal incident.
‘Just after 5am, police were called to assist emergency services following reports of a crash at a mine off the Peak Downs Highway,’ the spokesperson said.
‘Initial information indicates one man was declared deceased at the scene, with another man transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.’
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Emergency services were called to the crash at Moranbah in the Bowen Basin, 195 kilometres southwest of Mackay, just after 4.30am on Friday
Resources Safety & Health Queensland (RSHQ) chief executive Claire Cooper said the lead agency has now deployed investigators and coal inspectors to the site.
‘Preliminary information indicates two vehicles collided at the site early this morning,’ Cooper said.
‘Our thoughts are with the worker’s family, friends and colleagues during this difficult time.’
The open-pit site, located 31 kilometres south-east of Moranbah, is one of five metallurgical coal mines in Queensland’s Bowen Basin.
It opened in 1972 and is owned by BMA, a joint venture between BHP and Mitsubishi Development, which suspended operations across all of its central Queensland mines for 24 hours in the wake of the tragedy.
The crash ceased work on five sites in total – Goonyella Riverside, Broadmeadow, Saraji and Caval Ridge along with Peak Downs.
‘With deep sadness we confirm that a member of our team who worked for one of our contracting partners was fatally injured this morning at Peak Downs Mine in a vehicle-related incident,’ BHP Mitsubishi Alliance said in a statement.
‘A second team member was injured.’
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One man was declared dead at the scene and another suffered chest pain and leg injuries
The fatal collision would be felt across the entire resources sector, BHP Mitsubishi Alliance said.
‘We are providing support to the families and loved ones involved,’ the statement said.
‘BMA has ceased operations across all our sites for 24 hours to support authorities and enable our people to reflect and refocus on safe ways of working.
‘We are working closely with emergency services and Resources Health and Safety Queensland.’
The tragedy hit hard for Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie.
‘My daughter goes fly in, fly out once a fortnight to work underground in a gold mine,’ he said on Friday.
‘It’s one of the most risky jobs to have and it’s just tragic when you hear circumstances like that – it’s just unimaginable.
‘Our thoughts and condolences are obviously with the family involved. I want to thank the first responders, all the mining workers you can’t imagine to begin what they’re going through.’
Mining and Energy Union said its representatives had responded to the incident and were providing support.
‘Our thoughts are with the worker’s family, friends, workmates and the broader mine community at this incredibly difficult time,’ it said in a statement.
The Queensland Resources Sector also expressed its condolences, saying it was ‘deeply saddened’ by the incident.
