Another update with more info on the injured miners. FRANKFORT, Ky. – (Aug. 6, 2013) – Kentucky Office of Mine Safety and Licensing officials say one underground miner was killed today and two others injured as they were conducting retreat mining operations at a Harlan County mine. The accident was reported around noon. The deceased miner has been identified as Lenny D. Gilliam, age 56, of Appalachia, Va. The two injured miners are Terry Scott and Johnny Nantz. Their injuries do not appear to be life-threatening. Preliminary reports indicate the side of a coal pillar burst as the continuous miner machine was operating, causing the miners to be trapped. The mine is the Huff Creek Mine, located near Holmes Mill on Black Mountain, is operated by Lone Mountain Processing, a subsidiary of Arch Coal. This is the second mining-related fatality in Kentucky in 2013. In January, a miner welding a liner to a dozer blade and was struck by the liner when a jack supporting the blade slipped.
Posted on: Tue, 06 Aug 2013 21:00:56 +0000