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November 10, 2009

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Miner dies in rig accident

Wednesday, April 12, 2000 | 11:28 a.m.

Investigators said Byron Coates, 40, a drilling worker with Boart Longyear Co. out of Spokane, was killed Monday.

Getchell General Manager Michael Winship said a helper left the drill rig where Coates was working to get water, and when he returned, he discovered Coates "caught up in the drill string."

Coates apparently was adding another piece of pipe to the rotary rig, which was already down 2,400 feet. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Humboldt County coroner.

The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration, the Nevada Division of Industrial Relations Mine Safety and Training Section, Boart Longyear and Placer Dome Exploration Group are all investigating the fatality.

Coates was the second person to die this year in a Nevada mining accident. The first was Rick Brandner, 45, of Elko, who was killed Feb. 3 at Barrick Goldstrike Mines' underground Meikle Mine when his water truck plummeted 75 feet down an open stope.

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