Mystery over sudden death of truckie 48 hours after he was seen cleaning his truck at Thunderbox mine site near Leinster, Western Australia
- Truck driver found dead in his cab at highway restaurant
- Hours earlier he had delivered chemicals to a gold mine
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Police detectives and WorkSafe are investigating how a Perth truck driver mysteriously died in the cab of his vehicle while parked at an Outback rest stop.
The truck driver had delivered a load of chemicals to the Thunderbox mine near Leinster, a 10-hour drive northwest of Perth, on August 14. He had cleaned his truck there.
The last time he was heard from was at 8pm the following evening. He was found at a truck stop on the Great Northern Highway, near Pithara, two hours’ drive north of Perth, at around 10am on 16 August.
The truck driver was exposed to chemicals, including a diluted amount of cyanide, from a burst hose while cleaning his truck, but he was wearing protective gear, officials said. The Western Australian.
Cyanide is used in mining to dissolve and extract gold from low-grade ore. However, the chemical is also extremely toxic to humans.
He suffered minor burns and was examined by medical personnel at the mine site before being cleared to drive away.
The man’s body was found by police after his employer, chemical manufacturer Coogee, could not reach him on his phone and asked them to conduct a welfare check using the GPS on his truck.
A relative of the man said he hoped the incident would not be “swept under the rug” because his “family deserves better.”
A truck driver has died after delivering a chemical load to the Thunderbox mining site in WA (pictured)
The mine (pictured) is located in the Goldfields region of Western Australia’s outback
Police say they are investigating the matter, but it is not a criminal investigation.
“The death is being treated as non-suspicious and the coroner’s investigation division is preparing a report for the coroner,” a police spokesperson said.
“This is not being treated as a criminal case.”
WorkSafe said they were also involved and were awaiting advice from the coroner.
Cyanide is used to dissolve and extract gold from low-grade ore (pictured: ore being processed at the Thunderbox mine)
“WorkSafe has been made aware of this incident and has launched an investigation into the circumstances to ensure compliance and prevent similar incidents in the future,” a spokesperson said.
Both Coogee and Northern Star Resources, the mine’s owner, said the operator was receiving “immediate medical attention” and offered condolences to his family.
“The incident was reported by the driver himself, after which the mine provided medical attention and the driver was subsequently declared fit to work,” a Coogee spokesperson said.