DAHLGREN, Ill. (WJPF) – Two separate incidents Saturday at the Hamilton County Coal mine in Dahlgren are under investigation after one worker was killed and five more were taken to the hospital.
The first incident happened around 2:30 a.m. Saturday. Cameron Fourez, 41, of West Frankfort, died when an underground roof support collapsed. Co-workers attempted life-saving first aid, but Fourez was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Hours later, at about 6:20 a.m. Saturday, five men were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation after a fire broke out inside of an above-ground prep building where the coal is broken up into smaller pieced and cleaned. It’s thought the fire was possibly caused from the spark of a welder.
The two incidents are not thought to be connected. Both are under investigation.
