RBC I A vehicle accident on Colowyo Mine property claimed the life of mine employee Jason Kawcak last Saturday.
The Moffat County Sheriff’s Office and emergency personnel responded to the accident July 14 at approximately 6 p.m. Kawcak was transported to The Memorial Hospital in Craig where he was pronounced dead.
No details about the vehicle accident were included in a press release from Western Fuels-Colorado, which purchased Coloywyo Coal Mine in December 2011, but Western Fuels general manager Ken Anderson made the following statement:
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and co-workers affected by this tragedy,” Anderson said. “The safety of our people and operations are our highest value and priority. We are working closely with public safety authorities to investigate the accident.”
All mining operations at Colowyo Mine have ceased while Colowyo personnel and investigators from the Mine Safety and Health Administration investigate the accident.
The Colowyo Coal Company is owned by Western Fuels-Colorado, a fuel supply subsidiary of Colorado-based Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association.
Mine personnel are working with authorities to restart operations but they have not yet determined a restart date or time.
Funeral services for Jason Kawcak will be held at 11 a.m. today, July 19, 2012, at The Journey at First Baptist in Craig and interment will follow in the Craig Cemetery.