KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — UPDATE 4:30 PM MONDAY: The U.S. Department of Labor on Monday released its preliminary report on a deadly accident at the Immel Mine in Knox County that killed one worker and injured two of his colleagues.
According to the preliminary accident report from the Mine Safety and Health Administration, 68-year-old Gerald Turbyville was performing scaling operations, which is knocking loose rocks from the walls and roof of the mine, from the basket of a lift when a piece of rock fell from the rib and hit him on July 13 around 12:38 p.m. He later was pronounced dead around 2:30 p.m.
Two others were hurt, but one was released from the hospital shortly after being admitted and the other is expected to recover after undergoing surgery.
The report said Turbyville had nearly 11 years of experience at the mine.
42 employees were in the mine at the time of the accident.
UPDATE 11 AM FRIDAY: Two miners are recovering after they were injured in a collapse at the Immel Mine that killed one of their colleagues.
One employee was killed Monday after a wall collapsed at the mine off Mascot Road. Two others were taken to the hospital.
Nyrstar said Friday those two employees are doing better. One suffered a minor injury and was released from the hospital shortly after treatment. The other had to undergo surgery and is recovering in noncritical condition.
"Given the circumstances, both of them are doing well," Nyrstar said.
The company said it is not sharing any other information at this time out of respect for the victims' families and loved ones. An investigation into the incident in ongoing.
UPDATE 5 PM MONDAY: Nyrstar said it doesn't know the circumstances that led to an incident Tuesday afternoon that killed one "colleague" and injured two others at the Immel Mine, but an internal investigation is underway.
"Nyrstar is undertaking a review of the accident and is cooperating fully with the relevant authorities. Safety remains a priority for Nyrstar," the emailed statement from Human Resources Manager Ronica Hageman reads.
The deceased employee had worked at the mine more than a decade, according to Hageman.
Area rescue officials have said a wall collapsed at the mine off Mascot Road near the Holston River.
Nyrstar said the incident occurred about 12:30 p.m. The three victims were on the job at the time, according to the Dutch firm.
"Next of kin have been informed. The injured employees were transported to hospital for treatment," the company said.
Counseling is being offered to mine employees.
"The company extends its deepest sympathies to the family, friends and colleagues of the deceased employee who had worked at the mine for the past 11 years," Hageman's statement reads.
This is the second death Immel Mine has seen this year after 26-year-old Cody Maggard was killed in February.
Federal authorities classified the accident type as "powered haulage," which means mobile equipment, conveyor systems and "anything else under power that hauls people or materials" was involved.
A final report on the accident has yet to be released. An official from the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration said no fines have been issued in that incident.
After five months with no answers, Maggard's mother, Roxanna Jackson, said she is frustrated having to relive the pain after another miner has died.
She questions if the safety protocols are enough and wants to see an end to the pain and misery her family and now others are experiencing.
PREVIOUS STORY: One person was killed and two people were injured Tuesday afternoon in an underground accident at the Immel Mine in Knox County near the Holston River, authorities said.
Jeff Bagwell, spokesman for Rural Metro Fire, said a wall may have collapsed down in the zinc mine off Mascot Road. One person was dead at the scene; two others were removed and taken for treatment to an area hospital, Bagwell said.
Knox County Rescue was alerted about 1 p.m. to respond to an accident at the mine, said John Whited, Knox County Rescue's deputy chief.
It's operated by Nyrstar, and it's one of several mines the Dutch firm has in the area.
Names and conditions of those involved were not available.
Nyrstar spokesman Jason Davis said Tuesday afternoon he couldn't comment immediately but would release information when it became available.
Knox County Sheriff's Office deputies also responded to the scene, spokeswoman Kimberly Glenn said.
Authorities with the federal Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration will take the lead on the investigation, as is common practice.
Whited said a Knox Rescue truck and ambulance were dispatched to the scene. They were present to help mine staff with transport after the two people were removed from the mine.
“They’re trying to get them out,” Whited said.
He didn’t know how far down the two people were.
“It’s a pretty deep mine.”
Rural Metro also was dispatched to the scene, Bagwell, said.
PRIOR NYRSTAR MINE INCIDENTS
On Feb. 22, a mine employee died inside the Immel Mine when he was crushed by a piece of equipment. He was identified as Cody Scott Maggard, of Corbin, Ky.
"The victim was crushed between a rail-mounted locomotive and an ore chute," according to a preliminary Mine Safety report.
Federal investigators have not prepared their final report on the February incident, officials said. Only then will any possible assessment be issued against the mine, according to the Office of Assessments.
In May, a miner was killed in a separate accident at another mine in Jefferson County operated by Nyrstar called the Young Mine.
According to a preliminary accident report from Mine Safety, the victim was identified as Brandon L. Rosky, 35.
According to the report, a trailer carrying a diesel pump broke as it was being towed up an incline roadway. The tow hitch broke.
Rosky was walking behind the trailer and was fatally injured when he was hit by the trailer.
