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Morenci copper mine worker killed in accident in eastern Arizona

Distant mountains dump trucks in foreground of strip mine landscape in Morenci, Arizona.
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Distant mountains dump trucks in foreground of strip mine landscape in Morenci, Arizona.

A Morenci copper mine worker died on the job Monday. The employee was fatally injured that morning. According to the mine’s owner, Arizona based Freeport-McMoRan, the worker was involved in a haul truck accident.

"We are deeply saddened to confirm that a Freeport-McMoRan employee was fatally injured Monday morning following a haul truck accident at our Morenci mine. Our thoughts and condolences are with the employee's family, friends and coworkers during this difficult time." the company said in a statement.

Freeport-McMoRan’s Morenci mine produces 225 million pounds of copper per year in eastern Arizona. The last fatal accident to occur at the Morenci mine was in 2022, when a haul truck lost control of its brakes.

According to the company, the incident is currently under investigation by the Mine Safety and Health Administration and the Arizona State mine inspector.

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Lilly Roseburrough is an intern at KJZZ.