April 14, 2026 - A federal preliminary report released this week is providing new details into a fatal mining accident that occurred earlier this month, one of two deadly incidents in West Virginia within a 24-hour span.

The report, issued by the Mine Safety and Health Administration, outlines the April 3 death of 36-year-old miner Darin Reece at the Ohio County Mine in Marshall County.

According to the agency, Reece, a section supervisor with 18 years of mining experience, died around 10:30 a.m. during longwall setup operations. Investigators said a scoop backed into another scoop that was transporting a longwall shield, causing the shield to shift and pin Reece as he worked underneath it.

The mine is operated by Ohio County Coal Resources Inc., a subsidiary of ACNR Holdings Inc. About 160 workers were underground at the time of the accident. No other injuries were reported.

MSHA classified the incident as a fatal powered haulage accident and noted that the findings are preliminary, with the investigation ongoing.

Reece’s death came less than 24 hours after another fatal mining accident in southern West Virginia.

Aaron Warrix, 53, died April 2 at the Horse Creek Eagle Mine in Raleigh County after being struck by a piece of rock. Warrix was a shuttle car operator at the mine, which is operated by Marfork Coal Company LLC, a subsidiary of Alpha Metallurgical Resources.

Patrick Morrisey said in a statement that the back-to-back fatalities have had a deep impact across the state’s mining communities.

“The impact of these events reaches far beyond the job site. It is felt by families, coworkers and entire communities,” Morrisey said. “That weight is even greater today, as this marks the second loss of life in West Virginia’s mining community in less than 24 hours.”

Morrisey also extended condolences to both miners’ families and said state safety officials are investigating the incidents.

The two deaths are the first reported mining fatalities in West Virginia this year.

The state recorded six mining deaths in 2025, according to MSHA data, including three in the final two months of the year. That total marked an increase from five fatalities in 2024, three in 2023 and four in 2022. West Virginia also reported six mining deaths in 2021.