Strawberry Plains, TN (WOKI) The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration says roof material fell onto a miner’s loader at Young Mine in Jefferson County killing him.

Their report says it happened on July 12, killing 36-year-old Alan Whitaker who had been working at the mine for just over three years.

Young Mine is located near Strawberry Plains and is owned by Nyrstar East Tennessee. An in depth investigation into the incident is ongoing, and Nyrstar is cooperating fully with the Mine Safety and Health Administration (“MSHA”).

In 2021, the company’s Immel mine was cited for safety concerns before an employee was killed in a mine collapse.