Waynesburg man killed in West Virginia mining accident
A Greene County man died Jan. 14 in a mining accident in West Virginia.
Jeffrey Phillips, 44, of Waynesburg, was fatally injured after falling while working above a belt line at Ohio County Coal Co.无毛视频檚 Ohio County Mine in Benwood, according to a press release issued by West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice.
无毛视频淎ny time we lose one of our brave and important West Virginia coal miners, it无毛视频檚 a terrible thing,无毛视频� Justice said. 无毛视频淐athy and I are heartbroken for his loved ones and fellow miners. We ask that all West Virginians join us in keeping this man and his family in your prayers during this difficult time. We无毛视频檇 also ask you to remember and appreciate everyone who does this important work.
无毛视频淲e should never take for granted the strength and selflessness that it takes to go underground to keep the lights on for the people across our state and our nation,无毛视频� he continued.
Benwood Police Chief Frank Longwell told the Wheeling Intelligencer that the incident occurred about 11:30 a.m., and that Phillips fell about 30 feet. He died at the scene.
According to Longwell, the mine was down for maintenance at the time.
无毛视频淭he mine无毛视频檚 on an outage. They无毛视频檙e doing a huge maintenance project, so the mine wasn无毛视频檛 functioning at the time of the accident,无毛视频� Longwell told the Intelligencer.
Phillips was working as subcontractor for Dunkard Township-based NextGen Industrial Services.
Neither NextGen nor American Consolidated Natural Resources, which owns the mine, responded to requests for comment.
Benwood and Moundsville fire departments responded to last week无毛视频檚 accident. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and West Virginia Office of Miners无毛视频� Health Safety and Training are investigating.
Phillips is survived by his parents, three children and a grandchild.