July 31--A Latrobe man was crushed to death by a truck he was repairing on Wednesday morning at an Amerikohl Mining Inc. surface mining site, officials said.
Steelyn Gary Kanouff, 26, was a mechanic at the mine on Oneida Mine Road in Brush Valley Township.
Indiana County Chief Deputy Coroner Jerry L. Overman Jr. pronounced Kanouff dead at the scene at 7:18 a.m. from trauma to the head and chest.
"Until the truck is examined, it is (un)known why the strut gave out, crushing him between the body of the truck and the front tire," according to a news release issued by the coroner's office.
Kanouff had been employed at Amerikohl since 2006, according to Daniel Johnston, the safety management coordinator for DMS Safety Services, which is contracted by the Butler-based mining company.
A mechanic was called in to diagnose a problem on the front strut of the rock truck.
"This was a mechanical failure, not human error," Johnston said.
According to Trooper John Matchik, Kanouff climbed up on the 7-foot-high tires and was crushed between the frame and tire when the suspension of the 50-ton truck failed.
Johnston said Kanouff's co-workers were present at the time of the accident, and out of respect, the company closed the site for the day.
Firefighters from Armagh, Brush Valley and East Wheatfield township departments freed Kanouff, according to the coroner.
The Mine Safety and Health Administration will investigate the incident and will interview witnesses and gather physical evidence, said administration spokeswoman Amy Louviere.
MSHA investigates all mining accidents for safety and health violations and will release a report of its findings. If any violations are found, the agency will issue citations and possible fines. "These accidents are not uncommon," Louviere said. "You figure with these big trucks on mine property, there are a lot of things you have to take into consideration."
State police are investigating, but Trooper John Matchik said Kanouff's death likely will be ruled accidental.
Kate Wilcox is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-836-6155 or [email protected].
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