CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - The Office of Miners' Health Safety and Training reports that West Virginia has suffered its third coal mining fatality of the year.
Agency spokeswoman Jama Jarrett says 53-year-old Charles Dixon of Fayette County was killed at about 7 a.m. Tuesday morning at Newtown Energy's Eagle Mine in Boone County. He had 25 years mining experien with six being at this mine in Comfort.
Two others, Daniel Ewing and Dave Morgan, were also injured in the accident and have been transported to a hospital -- one with facial injuries and the other with minor head injuries.
Jarrett says the accident involved a hoist car.
"Instead of elevator shafts, some mines, such as this one, have slope entrances and use cars to transport workers. These cars run on tracks and are operated by a hoist system," said Jarrett.
A news release from the mine states, "Dixon, affectionately called "Big Charlie" by his co-workers, was killed in a hoisting accident at Newtown Energy, Inc.'s, Eagle No. 1 Mine near Winifrede, Kanawha County, West Virginia. Mr. Dixon, a Fayette County man, was an experienced and trained miner, and worked as a trackman since 2003 at Newtown Energy, Inc. Mr. Dixon was 53 years old and first obtained his miner's card in 1981."
The mine employs about 220 people and produces about 1 million tons of coal a year.
"We are deeply saddened by this loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Dixon's family right now", said Bob Ellis, Newtown Energy, Inc.'s President.
Ellis says this was the first fatality at a Newtown Energy Inc. mine.
According to the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration's Web site, Tuesday's fatality would be the nation's 14th coal mining death this year.
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