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Tree falls, kills miner at eastern Kentucky surface mine

Officials say a tree fell from a high wall and struck a pickup truck with the two men inside.

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Officials say one mine worker was killed and another was injured by a falling tree at an eastern Kentucky surface mine.  

A statement from the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet said 32-year-old Cecil T. Collett of Dryden, Virginia, was driving a pickup truck at the Colmar mine in Bell County on Tuesday when a tree fell from the high wall above the roadway and struck the vehicle.

Collett was pronounced dead and his passenger, 45-year-old Joshua Pendleton of Ewing, Virginia, suffered a broken hip and pelvis. 

Officials say all mining operations at the site owned by Nally & Hamilton Enterprises Inc. were shut down while an investigation continues.

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