Mining Accident In West Virginia Sends 3 To Hospital
Another mining accident has occurred in West Virginia, on the same day as families of the 12 Sago miners who died on the job earlier this year are calling for safer mine practices.
CONSOL Energy spokesman Tom Hoffman said workers were removing a belt structure in a mined-out section of the Blacksville No. 2 mine in the Wana area, along the West Virginia-Pennsylvania border.
Hoffman said two men were burned and a third was complaining about a sore throat.
All three men went to area hospitals.
Hoffman also said none of the injuries seemed life-threatening.
Davitt McAteer released an independent report on his finding at the Sago mine in Tallmansville yesterday and what needed to be done in the future to make mines safer.
McAteer’s report does not say what ignited the blast in the underground Upshur County mine. It cites the need for more study.
The Blacksville mine produces about 5 million tons of coal a year.
Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
