The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

September 30, 2008

State officials issue update on injured miners

One miner injured in an early Monday morning accident at a Massey Energy strip mine in Nicholas County remains in critical condition, according to state officials.

“The injured miner is still in critical condition,” said Jama Jarrett, communications specialist for the West Virginia Department of Commerce.

Jarrett identified the critically injured miner as Adam Perdue, 29.

Jarrett said the mine mechanic was checking the oil level on a piece of equipment when a protective shield was lowered onto his head accidentally.

“It appears that he became trapped between the blast shield of a highwall mining machine and its cutting head, which is a component of the machine that protects the miner from the cutting head,” Jarrett said.

Apparently, according to Jarrett, Perdue suffered massive facial fractures, lesions and bleeding.

Jarrett said the accident occurred at Massey subsidiary Alex Energy’s No. 1 Surface Mine.

Jarrett described the incident as “a serious, potentially fatal accident.”

The injured miner was taken to a local hospital and then transferred to Charleston Area Medical Center, Jarrett said.

A second worker was also hospitalized, but his injuries were not believed to be serious. Jarrett said she did not have his name.

A spokesman for Alex Energy’s corporate parent, Richmond, Va.-based Massey Energy Co., did not immediately return a call Tuesday.

The investigation is ongoing and interviews are being conducted, Jarrett said.

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