May 22, 2026 - Federal and state officials are investigating a fatal mining accident in southwestern Pennsylvania that killed a 34-year-old Greene County man.

According to the Mine Safety and Health Administration and Pennsylvania State Police, Zachary Wolfe of Rices Landing died Tuesday, while working underground at the Bailey Mine’s Wind Ridge operation just outside of Pittsburgh. 

Officials said Wolfe was performing roof support work when he was struck by a falling rock in the Aleppo Portal area of the underground bituminous coal mine.

MSHA classified the incident as a “fall of face, rib, side or highwall” accident at the mine, which is operated by Core Natural Resources LLC.

MSHA and Pennsylvania State Police continue to investigate the cause of the accident.

In one case, a 53-year-old miner was killed April 2 after being struck by falling rock while working underground at the Panther Eagle Mine in Raleigh County, according to a Mine Safety and Health Administration fatality alert.

MSHA said Aaron W. Warrix, a shuttle car operator with more than 23 years of mining experience, was setting timber posts during retreat mining when rock fell from the mine roof and struck him. He died later that evening.

The agency classified that death as a “fall of roof or back” accident — the first such fatality reported nationwide in 2026 and the seventh mining death overall that year.

MSHA said preliminary findings indicated the rock fell from between roof bolts while Warrix was installing turn timbers on a retreat mining section at the Panther Eagle Mine. About 40 miners were underground at the time, and no other injuries were reported.

Just a day later, on April 3, a second West Virginia miner was killed during longwall setup operations at the Ohio County Mine in Marshall County.

Authorities said 36-year-old Darin Reece, a section supervisor with 18 years of experience, was fatally injured when a scoop backed into another scoop transporting a longwall shield, causing the shield to shift and pin him while he worked underneath. MSHA classified the incident as a powered haulage accident.

Following the April 2 fatality, MSHA reiterated safety guidance including strict adherence to roof control plans, avoiding work beneath unsupported roof, conducting thorough examinations of roof conditions, and restricting access to hazardous areas until protections are in place.