Injured miner dies

COEUR d'ALENE - A miner injured in an accident at the Lucky Friday Mine in Mullan died Saturday.

Brandon Lloyd Gray, 26, died of injuries sustained in a Thursday night accident, according to a press release from the Hecla Mining Company.

"We are deeply saddened by Brandon's passing," said Phil Baker, president and chief executive officer. "Everyone at Hecla extends our sincere condolences to his family and loved ones."

Gray, a miner since 2008, had been working for Cementation USA Inc. since February 2011, a company that is under contract for the construction of the mine's No. 4 Shaft and has been operating at the mine site since 2009.

Cementation carries out specialist work in mine development.

Gray was working underground when he was trapped in the drawdown of broken rock in a bin that was being excavated, according to a Cementation press release.

It is believed that Gray was wearing his fall arrest protection at the time of the accident, the release said.

Gray was 2003 Mullan High School graduate.

"The whole Cementation family is grieving this terrible loss, and our immediate focus is in supporting Brandon's family with our assistance and our prayers," said Mike Nadon, president of Cementation U.S.A.

Following the accident, Hecla stopped operations at the Lucky Friday Mine "in order to focus our attention on the emergency response and to provide support to the affected employees and families of both Hecla and Cementation."

The incident is under investigation.

A date to resume operations has not been set, the release said.

"Hecla is committed to preventing such accidents from happening," Baker said. "We will continue to emphasize safety throughout all of our properties."

The accident was the second serious accident at Lucky Friday this year. Larry Marek, 53, a miner, died in an accidental fall of rock in April.