From Deseret News archives:
Frustrating delays at Crandall Canyon Miner's call came hour after collapse
Mine workers called three minutes after Walter Arabasz, the director of the U. seismograph station, called 911 in Emery County. The dispatch recordings were provided to media on Monday by the Emery County Sheriff's Office.
Those details emerged as the families of the six trapped miners were told that work on a seventh drill hole had been delayed because of bad weather. Additionally, a plan to lower a robot into the mine through a previously drilled hole was stalled because of debris in the hole. The hole was drilled almost two weeks ago.
Officials refused to say whether the work had resumed Tuesday morning. U.S. Labor Department spokesman Matthew Faraci said any new developments would first be reported to families of the trapped miners.
On the 911 recordings, Arabasz told Emery County emergency dispatch that readings near the mine at 2:48 a.m. Aug. 6 showed an earthquake of about 4.0 magnitude on the Richter scale. (That was later revised to 3.9.) Although he did not say it was caused by a collapse, he told the dispatcher it looked like it was connected to something that happened in a mine.
During the two-minute conversation, Arabasz asked if the dispatcher had other reports of "the event." The dispatcher told him there were no other reports.
At 3:47 a.m., a worker at the mine, Mark Toomer, called to report a collapse. He did not say there were injuries or ask for additional rescue personnel but simply suggested that they start an ambulance up the canyon toward the mine.
"We had a big cave-in up here, and we're probably going to need an ambulance," he said on the recording. "We're not sure yet, because we haven't heard from anybody in the section. But we're most likely going to need one up here."
The collapse filled the mine shaft where six miners were working with rock and coal, although it is not known if the miners were buried. Those six men Kerry Allred, Don Erickson, Luis Hernandez, Carlos Payan, Brandon Phillips and Manuel Sanchez have not been heard from since that morning.
Rescue efforts have been suspended since Aug. 16, when another cave-in killed three rescue workers.
The call from Arabasz further contradicts mine owner Bob Murray, who maintains the collapse was caused by a seismic event, not caused by the mine.
Recent comments
MSHA Is always going to give fines because they just want...
Heros daughter | Sept. 14, 2007 at 3:43 p.m.
melanie in wv,
Your frustration is understandable, and I'm sure
is...
A | Aug. 28, 2007 at 10:00 p.m.
I've watched this story very closely from day one, and I have not...
Doug Barber | Aug. 28, 2007 at 6:02 p.m.
- Kirilenko will not play tonight 2:37 a.m.
- Dry spell dooms UVU 2:32 a.m.
- Griffins cruise by St. Thomas 2:32 a.m.
- WSU wins conference road opener 2:30 a.m.
- Oden hurt, done for season? 12:56 a.m.
- USU home-court streak ends 12:55 a.m.
- USU names field after Merlin Olsen 12:52 a.m.
- Utes stop Idaho State 12:51 a.m.
- Y., U. to learn bowl destinations 12:49 a.m.
- Utes' team staying well-tuned 12:48 a.m.
- Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
309 - Letters: Liberal because LDS
247 - Y. profs: Beck not all-knowing
195 - Hate not limited to 1 in-state rivalry
189 - Aggies shoot past Cougars
179 - N.Y. Senate rejects gay marriage
128 - Unbeaten BYU takes trip to Logan
105 - George lost in rivalry hatefest
104 - Harpring's NBA career is over
94 - Ed Smart 'appalled' at testimony
90
Trolley Square's annual Holiday Open House will feature visits with...
That does it — I'm having an affair! Thanks to Tiger Woods, David...
First, a big thank you to all who posted questions here for me to ask...
We'll be watching the AGGIES in the NIT. At least BYU will BE in the NCAA....
You're right, the REFs don't care...they laugh when they leave the...
Las Vegas- Wyoming v USC Poinsettia- Air Force v Cal Armed Forces- Utah v....
Just another mental lapse. This is the NBA, this isn't a regular high school...
T-Buck, ESPN's box has CJ Miles shooting 3-for-10. Not a great deal of...
Tiger Woods used the media build up and sponsorship $$$ to attract...
Hey fellow Aggies, quit whining. We lost to the better team tonight. BYU...
I am glad the Cougars won this one too. What was the score with AZ...
More Maynor, 10 min. of Fes, we get the win. Since Jerry's extension, Fes...
Ivan--thank you buddy. It's always good to get the input of a BYU fine...



