Authorities say the men killed were rescuers trying to reach Allred, Don Erickson, Luis Hernandez, Carlos Payan, Brandon Phillips and Manuel Sanchez, who were trapped in the Aug. 6 collapse at the mine. The identities of the three who were killed and the six who were injured Thursday were not officially released.

Castleview Hospital reported that three of the injured miners taken there were treated and released. A rescuer who was taken to University Hospital in Salt Lake City is listed this morning in fair condition, hospital spokeswoman Chantelle Turner said.

The turn of events has left the mining communities reeling.

"It is a devastating blow to what has already been a tragic situation," Price Mayor Joe Piccolo said. Some of the injured were federal Mine Safety and Health Administration workers assisting in the rescue effort.

At Crandall Canyon, anxious families members rushed to the mine's entrance on Thursday night, desperate to learn anything about the fate of their loved ones.

One woman, who spoke only Spanish, begged an Emery County Sheriff's deputy to find out if her husband was alive.

"Not right now," a deputy said.

"She needs to see him," said Siklalic Garcia, translating for the woman.

"She'll have to sit right here then," a deputy replied. "Or go down to Huntington. Or go make a phone call."

The woman and her young daughter erupted in sobs as a wall of news cameras swooped in, capturing her grief. A few minutes later, the deputy returned and said the woman's husband was OK.

Price's mayor talked to the families stationed at Castleview Hospital and said "the mood is very hopeful." He also spoke with family of a dead miner but refused to release any other information.

"Carbon and Emery counties have been no stranger to these disasters." Piccolo's father was killed in a mining accident 50 years ago.

"It is a very stressful way of life known for many years, 100 years perhaps," the mayor said.

And as residents are left stunned and grieving from the latest catastrophe, expressions of empathy, condolences and heart-felt prayers are beginning to emerge.

"If any good can come from these tragedies, it is our hope it will be a heightened awareness and appreciation of those who risk their lives daily in dangerous occupations for the benefit of all, and a renewal of our resolve to support increased safety in the places in which they work," said Bishop John C. Wester of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City.

"On behalf of the Catholics of Utah, I wish to express our condolences to the families of the rescue workers who died as a result of the second collapse at the Crandall Canyon Mine, as well as our prayers for the swift recovery of the rescue workers and Mining Safety and Health Administration officials who were injured. ... Our prayers are with all of those affected; the original six trapped miners and their families; the families of the victims of the most recent collapse; rescue workers who put their lives at risk for the sake of their brothers; and the entire mining community who are suffering through this terrible series of events."

Wester added that special prayers for the fallen rescue workers, the injured, the six trapped miners and their families will be said at Catholic churches throughout Utah this weekend.

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Contributing: Amy Choate-Nielsen, Jens Dana, Lois Collins, Lisa Riley Roche

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E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com;preavy@com