Special Edition: Fatality in Tennessee Zinc Mine

One dead, two injured in Knox County mine collapse, Rural Metro Fire reports
Two workers have been injured and one killed in a collapse at the Nyrstar Mine in Mascot.
By Kelly Ann Krueger

Published: Jul. 13, 2021 at 1:50 PM EDT|Updated: 17 hours ago

MASCOT, Tenn. (WVLT) – One person has died and two workers have been injured in a collapse at the Nyrstar Mine on 2160 Immel Road, according to Rural Metro Fire officials.

The Rural Metro Fire Department says the two other injured are in “serious condition” and are still at UT Medical Center.

Rural Metro Fire along with Knox County Rescue and American Medical Response responded to the call that came in at 1 p.m.

This is the third fatality at the companies Tennessee locations this year. 26-year-old Cody Scott Maggard, was killed in February and 35-year-old Brandon Roski, was killed in May according to the Mine Safety and Health Administration.

The Immel is one of the three underground zinc mines operated by Nyrstar Tennessee Mines. The East Tennessee plant has over 400 employees, according to Nyrstar.

Nyrstar is the second largest zinc metal producer, covering three continents and more than 4,000 employees.

Nyrstar Official Press Release – 7.13.2021[14097] by WVLT News on Scribd

“The company extends its deepest sympathies to the family, friends and colleagues of the deceased employee who had worked at the mine for the past 11 years,” Nyrstar released in a statement.

Johnathan Dalton, a former employee at Nyrstar for two and a half years, worked alongside the man who died. Dalton says this man was lighthearted and always would make someone feel better and reassured when they were nervous or having a bad day. Dalton went on to say that this man was one of the people who took his job the most seriously and was always very safe on sight.

The collapse is currently under investigation.

Family remembers 26-year-old after deadly zinc mining incident in Strawberry Plains
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by: Blake Stevens

Posted: Feb 24, 2021 / 05:05 PM EST / Updated: Jul 13, 2021 / 01:52 PM EDT

KNOX COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) — A 26-year-old man died while working at the Immel Mine on Monday. The mine, which sits off Mascot Road in Strawberry Plains, is one of three underground zinc mining locations in East Tennessee operated by Nyrstar.

A general manager with the company confirmed the news in a release Wednesday, which reads in part:

“Nyrstar regrets to confirm that Monday February 22nd an incident at the Immel Mine within its East Tennessee operations led to a colleague tragically losing his life while performing his duties…The company extends its deepest sympathies to the family, friends and colleagues of the employee who had worked at the mine for almost 5 years. Nyrstar is offering counseling and other support to colleagues who have been affected by this tragic incident.”

We’ve confirmed from close family the miner is Cody Maggard, from Corbin, Ky.

His mother, Roxie Jackson, described him as a big teddy bear, who was easy-going, funny, a jokester, and a little shy. She said her son was all about family and loved his wife of four years.

Obituary for Cody Scott Maggard, 26 of Corbin, KY 

Jackson also described him as a hard worker. Maggard drove more than 160 miles back and forth to the mine from his home in Corbin, Ky. She said he liked the job and took safety seriously.

While she understands accidents happen, as a mom, she says she needs to know more about how it happened.

“I want to know why this happened, how this happened, you know, I just want to know why,” she said. For closure, she would like to know the specifics including if he was hurt, if he suffered, and whether the incident was caused by equipment failure.

As to the cause, the company news release also says the possible cause is unknown and the company is “undertaking a review of the accident and is cooperating fully with the relevant authorities.”

Thanks for the share, JM and KE.