A worker has been killed and another seriously injured after a large mining truck reversed over a light vehicle at BMA's Peak Downs coal mine near Moranbah in central Queensland, with emergency services called to the scene in the early hours of Friday morning.
Queensland Police confirmed that one man died at the scene following the collision, which occurred at approximately 4.38am on Friday. A second man, who was trapped by his lower leg beneath the vehicle, was freed by rescue crews and transported to Moranbah Hospital, where he is understood to be in a stable condition.
What Happened at Peak Downs Mine
The incident involved a heavy mining truck reversing over a light vehicle at the coal mine, which is located near the central Queensland town of Moranbah. Emergency services responded swiftly, with Queensland Ambulance Service crews working to free the injured worker before rushing him to hospital.
BMA, the joint venture between BHP and Mitsubishi Development that operates Peak Downs, confirmed the incident and announced it had immediately suspended operations across all of its sites for a 24-hour period.
"This is a devastating tragedy which will be felt across BMA, BHP and the entire resources sector. We are providing support to the families and loved ones involved," a BMA spokesperson said.
"BMA has ceased operations across all our sites for 24 hours to support authorities and enable our people to reflect and refocus on safe ways of working. We are working closely with emergency services and Resources Health and Safety Queensland."
Investigators Deployed as Authorities Respond
Resources Health and Safety Queensland CEO Claire Cooper confirmed that investigators and coal mine inspectors had been deployed to the site and would work in close cooperation with police and emergency services.
"Our thoughts are with the worker's family, friends and colleagues during this difficult time," she said.
Queensland Natural Resources and Mines Minister Dale Last said details surrounding the incident were still emerging but expressed his condolences to all those affected.
"I have been advised that a worker at Peak Downs mine has lost their life and another has been seriously injured," he said. "My thoughts are with the friends, workmates, family of those involved, and the emergency services who attended — everyone deserves to go to work and come home safely."
A Troubled History and Broader Industry Toll
Friday's tragedy is not the first time Peak Downs mine has been the site of a fatal workplace accident. Two other workers have previously lost their lives at the mine — Peter Reynolds in 1986 and Athol Parry in 1974.
The latest fatality brings the total number of deaths in Queensland's mining industry to 25 since 2016, a figure that underscores the ongoing safety challenges facing the resources sector.
The scale of Friday's response — with BMA halting activity across all of its sites — reflects the severity with which the industry and regulators are treating the incident. Investigations by Resources Health and Safety Queensland are expected to continue in the days ahead as authorities work to establish the precise sequence of events that led to the collision.
Peak Downs is one of Queensland's major coal mining operations, and the shutdown of BMA's broader network of sites signals the significant impact the tragedy has had across the company's workforce and operations.
