There aren’t many details yet available from authorities, but West Virginia suffered its third coal-mining death of the year this morning.
A miner — not yet identified — was killed in a hoist car accident at Newtown Energy’s Eagle Mine in Kanawha County Boone County, according to Jama Jarrett, spokeswoman for the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training. A second miner was also injured, but there was no immediate word on his condition. Two other miners were also injured, one with minor shoulder and facial injuries and the other with minor head injuries, Jarrett said.
This is the 14th coal-mining death nationwide so far in 2009. It is the first since former United Mine Workers safety director Joe Main was confirmed last week as President Obama’s assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health.
Taking a quick look, the Eagle Mine is an underground operation that listed more than 200 workers and about 600,000 tons of production through the first three quarters of 2009, according to the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration.
Since opening in 2000, the Eagle Mine has consistently recorded an injury rate far worse than the national average — as much as three times higher — according to MSHA’s data. Last year, the operation was among those warned by MSHA to clean up its act or face tougher enforcement action for a “pattern of violations.”
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Monday, December 28, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
One Killed, Two Injured in Boone County Mine Accident
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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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.
Source
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Austell woman killed in Virginia wreck
A 69-year-old Austell woman was killed Tuesday afternoon in a three-car accident in Virgina, according to police.Virginia Bolton was killed in Henry County, Va., a rural county outside of Martinsville, according to Sgt. Robert Carpentieri with Virginia State Police. Bolton was the passenger in a 1994 Ford Taurus driven by Virginia Loggins of Stuart, Va.The Taurus collided with a Chevrolet pickup shortly before 3 p.m. Loggins was cited with failure to yield, according to police. Another vehicle, a 2003 Mitsubishi, was also involved in the accident.
Bolton was wearing her seatbelt at the time of the accident.
All three drivers were treated for injuries at a local hospital.
Source
Bolton was wearing her seatbelt at the time of the accident.
All three drivers were treated for injuries at a local hospital.
Source
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Texting Increases Risk Of Auto Accidents
According to a report released on Tuesday, text messaging while driving increases the risk of an auto accident even more than talking on a cell phone while driving.
The study, which was conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), found that texting while driving increased the risk of an accident by more than 23 times.
"Text messaging on a cell phone was associated with the highest risk of all cell phone related tasks," says the VTTI. "The tasks that draw the driver's eyes away from the forward roadway were those with the highest risk."
The VTTI also found that text messaging leads drivers eyes to be off the road an average of 4.6 seconds over a six-second interval.
"This equates to a driver traveling the length of a football field (100 yards) at 55 miles per hour without looking at the roadway," the study said.
"Talking/listening to a cell phone allowed drivers to maintain eyes on the road and were not associated with an increased safety risk to nearly the same degree," it said.
According to the study, the risk of a crash, or near crash, for a driver in a light car while dialing on a cell phone was 2.8 times higher than a normal non-distracted driver.
The chance of an auto-accident was 1.3 times higher when talking on a cell phone, and 1.4 times higher when reaching for an object in the vehicle.
The risk of an accident in heavy vehicles was 5.9 times higher when dialing a phone, 6.7 times higher when reaching for something, but only 1.0 times higher when talking on a cell phone.
Accident risk was 23.2 times higher for truck drivers when texting.
To gather data for the report, the VTTI used cameras and instrumentation to observe truck drivers, and light vehicle drivers over more than six million miles.
"These results show conclusively that a real key to significantly improving safety is keeping your eyes on the road," the VTTI said in the report.
The study is also requesting that text messaging be banned in moving vehicles for drivers.
Currently, texting while driving is banned in 14 US states.
According to information reported by The New York Times, the federal agency commissioned to keep roadways safe concealed research seven years ago that explained the dangers of using cell phones while driving.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration did so because it feared the study would anger members of Congress.
The study, conducted by the NHTSA in 2002, found that 955 people were killed during 240,000 traffic accidents caused by driving and using a cell phone.
Source
The study, which was conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), found that texting while driving increased the risk of an accident by more than 23 times.
"Text messaging on a cell phone was associated with the highest risk of all cell phone related tasks," says the VTTI. "The tasks that draw the driver's eyes away from the forward roadway were those with the highest risk."
The VTTI also found that text messaging leads drivers eyes to be off the road an average of 4.6 seconds over a six-second interval.
"This equates to a driver traveling the length of a football field (100 yards) at 55 miles per hour without looking at the roadway," the study said.
"Talking/listening to a cell phone allowed drivers to maintain eyes on the road and were not associated with an increased safety risk to nearly the same degree," it said.
According to the study, the risk of a crash, or near crash, for a driver in a light car while dialing on a cell phone was 2.8 times higher than a normal non-distracted driver.
The chance of an auto-accident was 1.3 times higher when talking on a cell phone, and 1.4 times higher when reaching for an object in the vehicle.
The risk of an accident in heavy vehicles was 5.9 times higher when dialing a phone, 6.7 times higher when reaching for something, but only 1.0 times higher when talking on a cell phone.
Accident risk was 23.2 times higher for truck drivers when texting.
To gather data for the report, the VTTI used cameras and instrumentation to observe truck drivers, and light vehicle drivers over more than six million miles.
"These results show conclusively that a real key to significantly improving safety is keeping your eyes on the road," the VTTI said in the report.
The study is also requesting that text messaging be banned in moving vehicles for drivers.
Currently, texting while driving is banned in 14 US states.
According to information reported by The New York Times, the federal agency commissioned to keep roadways safe concealed research seven years ago that explained the dangers of using cell phones while driving.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration did so because it feared the study would anger members of Congress.
The study, conducted by the NHTSA in 2002, found that 955 people were killed during 240,000 traffic accidents caused by driving and using a cell phone.
Source
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Accident backing-up traffic on southbound U.S. 395 near Virginia Street
Traffic is slow on U.S. 395 southbound near the Kietzke Lane/S. Virginia St. off-ramp in Reno as highway patrol officers have responded to the scene of a two-vehicle, non-injury crash, said Trooper Chuck Allen, Nevada Highway Patrol spokesman.
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The crash involving a school bus occurred about 3 p.m., Allen said. No passengers were on board the bus, he said.
The crash had been blocking traffic on the far-left and middle lanes.
A vehicle believed to have caused the crash fled the scene and officers are investigating, Allen said.
Source
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The crash involving a school bus occurred about 3 p.m., Allen said. No passengers were on board the bus, he said.
The crash had been blocking traffic on the far-left and middle lanes.
A vehicle believed to have caused the crash fled the scene and officers are investigating, Allen said.
Source
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Cell Phone Related Car Accidents Rise
Those talking on a cell phone while driving cause up to 20 per cent of all car accidents in Serbia, according to the Serbian Traffic Police.
The use of cell phones in cars will be regulated by new legislation, the Law on Safety in Traffic, which is to come into force on December 10, national broadcaster Radio Television Serbia, RTS, reported Monday.
Traffic laws dealing with the use of cell phones while driving, were adopted five years ago in EU countries.
Some EU member states allow drivers to talk on the phone through hands-free devices. The use of cell phones by drivers is totally forbidden in Portugal and Spain.
RTS reports that hands-free devices are not selling as well as expected, but that sales are expected to pick up in autumn along with the adoption of the new law.
The Virginia Tech Transportation Institut, has completed a national study on cell phone use and driving distractions that adds to the mounting body of evidence that driving while dialling, talking or texting is dangerous, if not deadly.
The survey shows that if you text while driving you are 23 times more likely to have an accident, while the risk of accidents when speaking on the phone is six times greater.
Under the new Serbian law, punishments for using a cell phone during a ride will be over €60 if drivers are caught on the spot. The higher fines (€90-250) and imprisonment (5-10 days) might be imposed where a driver is involved in a cell phone related accident.
Serbian Infrastructure Minister Milutin Mrkonjic has said that many recent car accidents in Serbia were caused through the poor state of the country's roads. The minister added that over €600 million will be doled out for road maintenance, in order to improve safety on highways and regional and local roads across the country.
Source
The use of cell phones in cars will be regulated by new legislation, the Law on Safety in Traffic, which is to come into force on December 10, national broadcaster Radio Television Serbia, RTS, reported Monday.
Traffic laws dealing with the use of cell phones while driving, were adopted five years ago in EU countries.
Some EU member states allow drivers to talk on the phone through hands-free devices. The use of cell phones by drivers is totally forbidden in Portugal and Spain.
RTS reports that hands-free devices are not selling as well as expected, but that sales are expected to pick up in autumn along with the adoption of the new law.
The Virginia Tech Transportation Institut, has completed a national study on cell phone use and driving distractions that adds to the mounting body of evidence that driving while dialling, talking or texting is dangerous, if not deadly.
The survey shows that if you text while driving you are 23 times more likely to have an accident, while the risk of accidents when speaking on the phone is six times greater.
Under the new Serbian law, punishments for using a cell phone during a ride will be over €60 if drivers are caught on the spot. The higher fines (€90-250) and imprisonment (5-10 days) might be imposed where a driver is involved in a cell phone related accident.
Serbian Infrastructure Minister Milutin Mrkonjic has said that many recent car accidents in Serbia were caused through the poor state of the country's roads. The minister added that over €600 million will be doled out for road maintenance, in order to improve safety on highways and regional and local roads across the country.
Source
Monday, September 28, 2009
Texting-driving accidents jump
Andrew and Jenna Stratmeyer, like many young people, do their share of text-messaging - just not when they're behind the wheel of a car.
That's because the siblings from Hartford have seen - and felt - the damage that can be done by a driver distracted by a cell phone.
The two were injured in July 2007 in a four-car crash on Highway 38. Jeffery Vierick, who was 17 at the time, was checking text messages when he rear-ended Jenna Stratmeyer's Chevy Cavalier with his Dodge pickup near Buffalo Ridge. He was cited for careless driving.
Stories such as that of the Stratmeyers are becoming more common. The number of accidents in South Dakota that authorities blame on drivers who are distracted by cell phone use has jumped 60 percent in the four years since the Department of Highway Safety began collecting such data.
In 2004, the number of accidents tied to cell phone use was 82. By 2008, it had reached 138.
But those numbers don't tell the whole story, officials say. For an officer responding to an accident to identify cell phone use as a contributing factor, the driver who used the phone usually must report it, Sioux Falls Police Chief Doug Barthel said.
"It's difficult to say how accurate those numbers can be," Barthel said. "Unless there's admission, there's no way to know."
While eyewitnesses might say a driver was using a cell phone, such allegations are difficult to prove unless that driver's cell phone records are subpoenaed.
And because the department rarely would do that, Barthel said, the reported number of cell phone-related accidents probably is lower than the actual number.
Andrew Stratmeyer, 20, was driving his sister's car when the accident happened. It took a year for him to recover from two chipped vertebrae. Jenna Stratmeyer, 23, couldn't work for four months and endured months of physical therapy in her recovery from broken ribs, hip damage and bleeding in her lungs and brain.
Andrew Stratmeyer said he sometimes talks on his cell phone while he drives, but he never checks text messages. The accident caused his sister to rethink text messaging, too.
Source
That's because the siblings from Hartford have seen - and felt - the damage that can be done by a driver distracted by a cell phone.
The two were injured in July 2007 in a four-car crash on Highway 38. Jeffery Vierick, who was 17 at the time, was checking text messages when he rear-ended Jenna Stratmeyer's Chevy Cavalier with his Dodge pickup near Buffalo Ridge. He was cited for careless driving.
Stories such as that of the Stratmeyers are becoming more common. The number of accidents in South Dakota that authorities blame on drivers who are distracted by cell phone use has jumped 60 percent in the four years since the Department of Highway Safety began collecting such data.
In 2004, the number of accidents tied to cell phone use was 82. By 2008, it had reached 138.
But those numbers don't tell the whole story, officials say. For an officer responding to an accident to identify cell phone use as a contributing factor, the driver who used the phone usually must report it, Sioux Falls Police Chief Doug Barthel said.
"It's difficult to say how accurate those numbers can be," Barthel said. "Unless there's admission, there's no way to know."
While eyewitnesses might say a driver was using a cell phone, such allegations are difficult to prove unless that driver's cell phone records are subpoenaed.
And because the department rarely would do that, Barthel said, the reported number of cell phone-related accidents probably is lower than the actual number.
Andrew Stratmeyer, 20, was driving his sister's car when the accident happened. It took a year for him to recover from two chipped vertebrae. Jenna Stratmeyer, 23, couldn't work for four months and endured months of physical therapy in her recovery from broken ribs, hip damage and bleeding in her lungs and brain.
Andrew Stratmeyer said he sometimes talks on his cell phone while he drives, but he never checks text messages. The accident caused his sister to rethink text messaging, too.
Source
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