2 Killed, 20 Injured in Colorado Mining Accident
Written by Rick Stambaugh FGGAM News
Read this update of Tuesday at 6:12am: https://fggam.org/ouray-colorado-mining-accident-details-emerge/Please pray as yet another tragic incident Sunday involving a Colorado mining accident claims the lives of 2 miners and injures 20 more in southwest Colorado. The accident was at the Revenue-Virginius mine, about seven miles south of the town of Ouray, Colorado and approximately 270 miles southwest of Denver.A local television station cites the Colorado Mine Safety and Health Administration reported that gases were released following an incident involving explosives at the mine. Authorities confirmed Sunday night that the two miners died of carbon monoxide poisoning and the exact source of the gas is under investigation. Marti Whitmore, a spokesperson for the state’s emergency management office stated, “Anything that has been reported is speculative.” “We don’t know what the cause is.” Officials said they are investigating whether a small explosion in the mining process may have caused the release of the gas.Star Mine Operations, LLC, the owner of the mine, couldn’t be reached but Whitmore said the company has accounted for all of the workers at the site. The deceased miners were identified by county officials as Nick Cappanno, 34, and Rick Williams, 59. They were confirmed dead underground Sunday afternoon. He also added that the 20 injured were taken to area hospitals and all but two have been treated and released. There was no condition disclosed concerning the two who are still being treated. Rory Williams, a project manager for Star Mine Operations, told the Ouray Watch newspaper the accident was not related to a cave-in or mine collapse, bu was apparently a “powder-smoke incident” and that the release of chemicals in the smoke injured the miners.The last major mining disaster in Colorado occurred in April of 1981 when an explosion killed 15 people at the Mid-Continent Dutch Creek No. 1 Mine near Redstone. There have been eight mining deaths in Colorado since 2002 not including this accident. In 2011, a New Mexico contract worker died after being hurt at the West Elk Coal Mine in Somerset where the 53 year old contractor slipped and fell from a beam at a tower construction site. In 2012, a 25 year old water truck driver died after losing control of his vehicle at Colowyo Mine in Moffat County.Between 1876 and the late 1940’s, the Revenue-Virginius mine produced more than 14.5 million ounces of silver, enough to weather the Silver Panic of 1893. Star Mine Operations acquired the property in late 2011.Please pray the the two souls lost and those injured and for their families during the rough days they have ahead
