# FALL OF FACE/RIB/PILLAR/SIDE/HIGHWALL
> **FATAL** · MSHA accident `220250300020` · 01/29/2025 · Lexington Coal Company, LLC
## Details
- **Degree of injury:** FATALITY
- **Classification:** FALL OF FACE/RIB/PILLAR/SIDE/HIGHWALL
- **Accident type:** Struck by falling object
- **Occupation:** Drill operator
- **Activity:** Surface equipment, NEC
- **Injury source:** CAVING ROCK,COAL,ORE,WSTE
- **Nature of injury:** MULTIPLE INJURIES
- **Body part:** TRUNK, MULTIPLE PARTS
- **Days lost:** —
- **Mine experience:** 1 years
## Operator
- **Controller:** Lexington Coal Holdings, Inc
- **Operator:** Lexington Coal Company, LLC
- **Mine:** [4608645](https://api.ai-analytics.org/mine/4608645)
## Narrative

The employee was drilling a test hole in the surface pit floor to see if the rider coal seam was under the seam they were taking. Due to the freezing and thawing of the highwall a large chunk of rock approximately 4'x2'x3' came down striking the enclosed cab of the mobile drill, ripping the cab off and striking the employee.

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*Source: [MSHA Open Government Data](https://arlweb.msha.gov/OpenGovernmentData/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*