KTVN Channel 2 - Reno Tahoe News Weather, Video - Missing Nevada Miner Found Dead
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A Nevada miner who was trapped in a collapse Tuesday morning was found dead by rescuers Wednesday outside Winnemucca.
36-year-old Curtis Johnson was working with heavy equipment in the Getchell Mine about 45 miles outside of Winnemucca when the accident happened. "It was a rock bolting machine, which is used to re-enforce and support the rock. It's a big machine and he was doing that bolting work at the time of the rock failure," says manager Brent Kristof.
At about 2am Tuesday rock inside the gold mine buried Johnson and the rock bolter he was using. He was about 2,000 feet into the mine from the entrance.
Rescuers found the machine, but it took them longer to find Johnson; they finally found his body late Wednesday morning.
Johnson lived in Winnemucca. He had more than seven years of mining experience, but started working at this mine in 2003.
The mine's general manager talked with Channel 2 after hearing the news. "We deeply regret the loss of a friend and co-worker. Our thoughts are with Curtis' family and everyone at Turquoise Ridge shares in their loss."
Fellow miners lowered flags to half staff to honor Johnson.
Federal mine inspectors are working to figure out what triggered the collapse. Until they give the okay, the Getchell Mine will stay closed.
The Getchell Mine is a joint venture owned by Toronto-based Barrick Gold Corp. and Denver-based Newmont Mining Corp. It is operated by Small Mining Development LLC, or SMD, an independent contractor based in Boise, Idaho.
