WHITE CO.—A Galatia man has been seriously injured in a rockfall that occurred yesterday at Pattiki Mine southeast of Carmi.
Luke Johnson, 28, who has worked for the mine for about seven years, was initially believed to have been crushed by the rockfall when it first occurred, this happening at about 5 p.m. yesterday, 10.18.12.
Luke Johnson
The family indicated that during the first call, the mine personnel reporting believed the outlook was grim for Johnson; but shortly thereafter, when he was being taken to the ambulance, he was able to make a call to his wife and tell her he was out and on the way to the hospital, to the family’s great relief.
He was taken to Deaconess in Evansville, where it was discovered he had sustained fractures to his back vertebrae (thoracic 10, 11 and 12).
This morning, he is awaiting word from the neurosurgeon there on how his treatment will proceed.
Mining in southern Illinois is necessary to the economy and to our utility bills, but it’s often a dangerous prospect, even for those who’ve been at it a long time like Johnson has. Keep him and all the miners and their families in your thoughts and prayers, readers. Hope he makes a quick recovery.