One dead, one injured after accident at lime plant mine in Giles County

GILES COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ) - One person is dead and another injured after an incident at the Lhoist Chemical Lime Plant in Ripplemead, according to the Giles County Sheriff’s Office.

First responders received a 911 call around 4 p.m. Monday. They were told an excavator had been engulfed by materials inside the mine, trapping someone inside the cab of the equipment. The operator was killed.

Another worker sustained minor lime chemical burns from attempting to rescue the equipment operator. That person was treated and released by EMS at the scene. Both people are employees of Gillmann Services Inc., a contractor operating at the facility. All other mine personnel were safe and accounted for, according to investigators.

The mine will be closed while the incident is under investigation.