September 9, 2025 - The Mine Safety and Health Administration released the preliminary report on the death of an electrician who died on the job in Boone County last month.

Eric Bartram, 41, a coal electrician for Marfork Coal Company, LLC, in Boone County, died while on the job in late August.

According to the preliminary report, Bartram was testing the elevators around 10:30 a.m. on Aug. 26, when one of them “descended” and struck him on the first-floor platform. He passed away less than an hour later.

A vigil took place at Chapmanville Regional High School in Logan County the following night in Bartram’s memory. Bartram was known as a loving father, devoted husband, friend to many, and the Tsunami Black 14U softball coach.

The report states that Bartram, a certified electrician, had more than 19 years of mining experience and had been working at the Markfork mine for about 10 years and 38 weeks.  

The incident is still under investigation, and this is only the preliminary report.