Now, an update from the Bell County Sheriff’s Department:

On Tuesday, January 11, 2022, at 3:12 PM, Bell County Deputy Sgt. Frank Foster was dispatched to an incident involving a tree falling on top of truck at the Colmar mine site, owned by Nally & Hamilton Coal Company.

Once on scene Sgt. Foster observed a green pickup truck that belonged to Nally & Hamilton with significant damage, from the fallen tree.

Middlesboro EMS was on scene and working on the male driver of the vehicle 32-year-old Cecil Todd Collet of Ewing, Virginia, who was then flown to Middlesboro ARH, but pronounced deceased once at the hospital.

Through the investigation it was determined that a tree had fallen from the lose ground from the high wall at the mine site striking the truck driven by Collett.

Another male, a passenger in the vehicle, was flown from the scene due to injuries sustained in the incident. His condition is unknown at this time..

Also assisting on scene was the Bell County Volunteer Fire Department, Sgt. Adam Southern, Deputy Derrick Widener, and Chaplain Rick Dorton.

MHSA will also be investigating this incident.