Special Edition: Two Deaths Reported at West Virginia Coal Mines, Gov. Justice

Two deaths reported at West Virginia coal mines, Gov. Justice says
by JEFF MORRISWednesday, August 11th 2021

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice announced Wednesday that two coal miners have died.

At his coronavirus news conference, the governor said Timothy Keith Collins, 53, of Mill Creek died early Wednesday morning in Randolph County.

Collins was a coal truck driver.

The governor said Jeffrey A. Hudnall died Aug. 4 at Marfork Coal in Raleigh County.

According to The Associated Press, separate incident reports indicate Collins had stopped his truck on the side of a road when a truck ran over him. Hudnall was working on top of a loader, lost his balance and fell to the ground. The Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training is investigating.

Justice said the mining industry, like some other industries such as farming, is dangerous and safety must continue to be stressed.

“Absolutely, we want them to get home every day to their families,” he said.

Justice, a coal operator, said the nation owes a great deal of debt to coal miners.

“We’ve got to salute these great, great men and women that absolutely power this nation and produce the greatest coal on the planet for making steel and powering the nation in so many ways. And they’ve been doing it forever,” he said.

The AP contributed to this report

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