March 8, 2019 - The WV Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training has confirmed that a 38-year-old man died Thursday at a surface mine in Greenbrier County after falling from a highwall miner.

The victim has been identified as Adam Deboard of Craigsville. Preliminary information is showing that he died from head injuries related to the fall.

The accident happened just before 2 p.m. at the South Fork Coal Company Blue Knob Surface Mine. Deboard was a load operator at the mine.

This is the first coal mining fatality in West Virginia this year and the third nationwide. The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration said the others occurred in Kentucky and Illinois. The accident is still under investigation.