Wednesday, August 6, 2008

W.Va. completes investigation of Consol mining death

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia has wrapped up its investigation of a fatal locomotive accident at a Consol Energy coal mine.

State investigators are scheduled Wednesday to brief the Board of Coal Mine Health and Safety on the June 5 death of 55-year-old locomotive operator Gary Hoffman.

State and federal mine inspectors initially said Hoffman jumped or was thrown from a 20-ton locomotive that derailed at Consol's Robinson Run No. 95 underground mine in Harrison County.

The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration also is investigating the accident.


Hoffman is one of four West Virginia coal miners and 18 across the country to die on the job this year.

Pittsburgh-based Consol operates mining complexes in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Utah, Kentucky and Ohio.

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