Kentucky Contractor Cited Over Miner’s Death by Drowning

A Kentucky company has been accused of a regulatory violation that federal investigators say contributed to the drowning of a truck driver in a mining accident.

A Mine Safety and Health Administration report says Lexington, Ky.-based Hawkeye Contracting was cited because Mark Allen Gray failed to control a dump truck that overturned July 28 into a pond at a Kanawha County coal mine. MSHA hasn’t assessed a fine yet.

Hawkeye didn’t immediately return a call seeking comment.

The report notes an autopsy found the 28-year-old Gray had a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent and traces of marijuana in his system.

MSHA says Hawkeye now searches employees weekly for drugs and alcohol and conducts random testing, among other things.