The fatality occurred on December 12 at a surface truck loadout area. While traveling on an 8-9% grade, the truck became stuck in loose gravel in a muddy area.

A mine employee parked a rubber-tired loader around six feet above the truck and exited the cab to attach a tow chain to pull the truck up the grade.

As the loader operator and truck driver were attaching the tow chain, the loader rolled into the truck knocking the loader operator aside and fatally injuring the truck driver.

MSHA said to avoid similar accidents operations should:

• When parking or leaving unattended mobile equipment on a grade, block or turn the wheels into the berm and ensure that parking brakes are set.

• Conduct thorough pre-operational checks and correct safety defects before operating equipment.
• Ensure equipment operators are properly tasked trained.
• Maintain parking brake systems and purge moisture from the system according to manufacturer's recommendations. Maintain mine roads in good condition.
• Provide contract coal haul truck drivers with the required hazard and site specific safety training for each operation that they work.

The Bear Canyon fatality was the 31st of 2007 and the fourth fatality catergorised under powered haulage.