FAIRBANKS -
A Nevada man died Monday morning following a miningaccident in Livengood.Jacob Ryan Branham, 20, of Spring Creek,Nev., was a drilling helper with AK Drilling, Inc. a Montana-basedcompany contracted through International Tower Hill Mines to conductexploration work at what is said to be one of the largest golddiscoveries in recent years.
Branham’s clothing was caught in apiece of moving equipment, believed to a be a large drill, just after5:30 a.m. He was sucked into an industrial drill and likely suffered abroken neck, Alaska State Trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters said.
AnAK Drilling crew transported him from the mine toward Fairbanks fortreatment and were met by the Steese Fire Department at about 7:30 a.m.on the Elliott Highway, at which time Branham was pronounced dead.
Foulplay is not suspected in Branham’s death, but an autopsy has beenordered by the State Medical Examiner.
A spokeswoman for AKDrilling, Inc. said that the owner of the company was on his way toLivengood but unreachable by cell phone. She did not know how longBranham had been employed with the company.