Special Edition: Desperate Search for 3 People Missing in West Virginia Mine; 1 Survivor Emerges

This is truly saddening at Holiday time and we do not know the reason, most of the time people try to get into abandoned mines to salvage as much copper or other items as they can, but this is at least the second such occurrence in the past month in West Virginia. I think the last search was given up on, I never heard of any positive results on it.

This is why we should take the Stay Out/Stay Alive so seriously…  This group has been missing since December 8th… prayers are needed

ABC News
December 11, 2018
Desperate search for 3 people missing in West Virginia mine; 1 survivor emerges

By Chris Francescani and Dee Carden

Rescue teams were exploring an underground West Virginia coal mine on Tuesday in search of two women and a man, after the fourth person in the group emerged on Monday night to report the location of the remaining three, according to mining and state officials.

The two women and two men — local officials initially described the group as four men — were reported missing late Saturday near the Rock House Powellton mine in Clear Creek, West Virginia, according to the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training (MHS&T), which dispatched mining rescue teams along with other state and local resources.

The three remaining people inside the mine include Kayla Williams, 25 Erica Treadway, 31, and Cody Beverly, 21, according to the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office Lt. M.A. McCray.

Eddie Williams, 43, emerged from the mine alone and reported the location of the missing trio to authorities, the sheriff’s office spokesperson said.

MHS&T officials activated the mine rescue team early Sunday morning after an abandoned ATV the group was believed to be riding was found near the mine entrance, officials said.

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice said he and other state and local officials are doing everything they can to reach the men.

“From the beginning I’ve said we needed to use all the resources available to us,” Justice said, according to a state press release.

“Many prayers were answered when the one individual exited the mine with information about where the others were located,” he continued in the statement.

“We are praying they can be found quickly and brought out to safety.”

MHS&T rescue personnel are working with the West Virginia National Guard, the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office and the Boone County Sheriff’s Office to coordinate the rescue mission, officials said.

McCray said the entry point to the mine was sealed at one point with a concrete wall and a fence across it, but had been since been torn down. McCray did not know whether the group now missing removed the barriers.

The individuals did not enter at the main entrance, McCray said, but rather used what’s called a “punch out hole” – a small shaft either accidentally punched out of the side of a mountain or created for ventilation.

McCray also said that a criminal investigation is pending, but is currently secondary to the rescue effort. It remained unclear on Tuesday what prompted the investigation. Click for source.

KOAT News
December 12, 2018
Desperate search for 3 people missing inside abandoned West Virginia coal mine

Chelsea Robinson

CLEAR CREEK, W.Va. — Workers are removing water and pumping fresh air into a nonoperational coal mine in West Virginia as they search for three people stuck inside.

The state Office of Miner’s Health, Safety and Training said Tuesday that a man who emerged on his own from the underground Rock House Powellton mine provided details about the location of the three, who he said were alive.

“He has not been arrested. He is cooperating with us. No charges have been filed against anybody,” Raleigh County Sheriff Scott Van Mater told WVVA.

The state said rescue teams explored the mine overnight, but came out Tuesday after oxygen reserves were depleted.

“Our priority is rescuing these individuals and maintaining the safety of our mine rescue teams. I have ordered the coordination of all resources needed for rescuers to continue to search the mine. We’re doing everything we can to accelerate the rescue,” said Gov. Jim Justice, according to WHSV. “These families, friends and the entire community are really hurting and need to be in our prayers.”

Those missing inside the mine have been identified by WVVA as Kayla Williams, 25, Erica Treadway, 31, and Cody Beverly, 21.

“I don’t know how he ended up under there. What possessed him. I can’t answer any of those questions. All I know is he’s there,” Beverly’s grandfather, Greg Scarbro, said.

“I just didn’t know what to think, I couldn’t believe she went in there. It’s just mind boggling, you know. I just know how dangerous it is,” Tyler Treadway, Erica Treadway’s brother, said to CBS News.

Scarbro said he is frustrated and does not believe everything is being done that could be.

“My grandson has been in that mine for over 80 hours. Over 80 hours and he’s still under there,” he said. “When it’s one of your kids, you want it done now. We’re hoping and praying and believing that things are going to work out good.”

No coal has been extracted from the mine for two years.

State officials said the four people were reported missing late Saturday and an all-terrain vehicle they were believed to be riding was found near the mine in Clear Creek. Click for source.