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November 10, 2025 - The United Mine Workers of America has sent experts to assist the rescue operation for a miner trapped in a flooded Nicholas County mine. In a statement released Monday, UMWA International President Brian Sanson also reflected on the recent passing of Joey Mitchell Jr., an employee of Mettiki Mine in Mount Storm. "The coal mining family has suffered two incidents in the last week in West Virginia: a fatality in Tucker County and now a missing miner in Nicholas County," Sanson said. "I have ordered our safety experts to the Rolling Thunder mine in Nicholas County to provide professional assistance to the teams working to find the missing miner. “The hearts and prayers of the entire United Mine Workers of America family go out to these miners and their families. Even though the workers at these two mines are not members of the UMWA, that doesn’t matter at a time like this. We are all coal miners, and we all care about the safety and health of each other.” Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced Mitchell's passing on Thursday. “Our coal miners are among the hardest-working and most courageous people in our state," he said. "They represent the strength, humility and resolve that define West Virginia. We owe these men and women an enduring debt of gratitude for the sacrifices they make every day to power our communities and our nation.” Mitchell's death was the fourth coal mine fatality in the state this year, according to the West Virginia Office of Miner’s Health, Safety and Training. On Jan. 29, at approximately 7:20 a.m. at the Lexington Coal, Progress Surface Mine in Raleigh County near Whitesville, a surface mine drill operator was fatally injured while drilling in a coal pit. The victim had positioned the Atlas Copco drill machine with the machine’s cab in close proximity to the surface mine pit highwall when a large section of rock broke loose from near the top edge of the approximately 62-foot highwall and contacted the operator’s cab, resulting in fatal injuries. On Feb. 28, at approximately 2:40 p.m. at the Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Marfork Coal Company LLC, Black Eagle Underground Mine, a 46-year-old miner with 29 years’ experience was involved in a fall of rib accident. The victim was working as a contractor for Wright Concrete Underground LLC. While in the process of constructing underground mine seals, he knelt down near the mine rib when the rib rolled and contacted the upper portion of his body and head, resulting in fatal injuries. On Aug. 26, at approximately 10:25 a.m., a fatality occurred involving a 41-year-old preparation plant electrician with 16-plus years of plant experience. This incident occurred at the Alpha Metallurgical Resources — Marfork Coal Co. — Marfork Processing Plant located near Pettus in Raleigh County. The victim and a Mine Safety and Health Administration inspector were performing operational examinations on the plant elevator when the incident occurred. The two were on the bottom floor of the plant at the entrance to the elevator when the MSHA inspector had walked away to go elsewhere in the plant. When he returned, the victim was found crushed by the elevator, resulting in fatal injuries. This incident remains under investigation by company officials, the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training and the Mine Safety and Health Administration. |
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