Two Men Killed in Tipper Truck Horror at Mine

By STEVEN HENRY; CAMPBELL THOMAS

TWO workers have died after a horrific accident at a coal mine.

They are thought to have been killed when the car in which they were travelling was crushed by a dump truck.

It is believed the men were too close to the reversing dump truck, which meant the driver, named in reports as Alan Shannon, 25, could not see them.

Emergency services were called to the Pennyvenie opencast coal mine in Dalmellington, Ayrshire, yesterday afternoon.

The Scottish Ambulance Service received a call at 1.30pm to say the men named locally as Colin Ferguson and Brian French had been crushed.

Mr Ferguson was believed to be in his thirties and had three children, including an eightmonthold infant.

Mr French was said to be in his fifties, originally from Durham, and had moved north more than 20 years ago. He was a grandfather and father-of-two.

An ambulance spokesman said: ‘We sent two land ambulances and one air ambulance helicopter but the two persons died at the scene due to the nature and extent of their injuries.

‘We are led to believe the dump truck ran over a Land Rovertype vehicle containing the two persons who died.’ The Health and Safety Executive has launched an investigation at the site, which is owned by Scottish Coal.

Andrew Foster, managing director of Scottish Coal, said: ‘The site will remain closed until the investigation is complete.’ Local residents were shocked at news of the accident. Restaurant owner Malkiat Singh, 41, said: ‘The boys came in here all the time.’ Another resident, who would did not wish to be named, said: ‘They were just normal men working long hours for their families.’ Local Labour MSP and Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson spoke of her shock at the tragedy. She said: ‘My thoughts are with the family of the two men and with the other workers, who will be devastated.’ A report will be sent to the procurator fiscal.

It is not the first fatal accident at the Pennyvenie site, which began operating in 1986. In 2000 Neil Hodge, of Ochiltree, Ayrshire, was on the back of a dump truck when an earth-filled skip which had been hydraulically raised fell on him.

Around 140 men work at the site, which produces 750,000 tons of coal a year.

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