Natural Causes, Not Mining Fatality, Caused Death in Nevada

Associated Press

EUREKA — Federal safety regulators say a death reported as a mining fatality in Nevada earlier this year was the result of natural causes.

The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration rescinded its findings last week in the May 13 death of 57-year-old Dean Pilcher of Eureka, Colorado.

The agency said he died from natural causes when the 50-ton (45-metric ton) haul truck he was driving overturned at McEwen Mining’s open pit Gold Bar Mine about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of Eureka, Nevada.

Therefore, the agency determined the “fatality is not chargeable to the mining industry.” It did not provide any details of why the truck crashed.

The Elko Daily Free Press reported that Pilcher was an employee of contractor N.A. Degerstrom, based in Washington state.

McEwen Mining is based in Toronto, Canada.