Mine Fatality

Santee Cooper in Contact with Family of Man Possibly Involved in Coal Pile Incident

by Courtney Rowles, Fri, May 24th 2024 at 7:18 AM, Updated Fri, May 24th 2024 at 9:56 PM

A search is underway for a bulldozer operator who fell into a coal pile at Winyah Generating Station in Georgetown County on May 24, 2024. (Credit: Amanda Kinseth/WPDE)

Search efforts are underway Friday morning after a bulldozer and its operator fell into a coal pile at Winyah Generating Station, according to Santee Cooper official, Tracy Vreeland.

Vreeland said search efforts began immediately and remain underway.

The man believed to be involved in the incident is 23-year-old Robert “Cody” Jordan. Jordan’s family confirmed Santee Cooper has been in touch with them about the incident. They said Jordan is from Conway but has lived in Georgetown for the past five years.

Vreeland added that the operator works for a contractor that Santee Cooper has used for years. The operator is Emcor Building Services. They released the following statement regarding the matter:

“We are deeply saddened by this tragic accident, and our thoughts and prayers are with our colleague and his family.” – Bobby Ollis, president of MOR PPM, Inc., a subsidiary of Emcor.

A thorough investigation will be conducted.

UPDATE:

GEORGETOWN, S.C. (WCSC) – The Georgetown County coroner has identified the worker killed in an industrial accident Thursday.

Cody Jordan, 24, of Georgetown, died from injuries he suffered in the accident at the Santee Cooper Winyah Generating Station, Coroner Chase Ridgeway said. Jordan was operating a bulldozer on top of a coal mound when the ground collapsed, burying Jordan and the bulldozer, he said.

Authorities had searched the scene since Thursday night before recovering his body Friday. Click here to learn more on this tragedy from News 5.