TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – Embattled coal producer Patriot Coal on Thursday said a 34-year-old employee died after being struck by a hydraulic cylinder on a refuse press at Midland Trail Energy's Blue Creek preparation plant, located near Charleston, West Virginia.
Brandon Townsend died on Wednesday and a second employee received non life-threatening injuries and is being treated at a local hospital.
"We deeply mourn the loss of Brandon and express our sincere sympathies to his family, friends and co-workers. The company is fully cooperating with state and federal mine regulatory officials during the investigation of the incident,” Patriot executive VP for operations Michael Day said in a statement.