July 3, 2026 - Federal mine safety investigators have concluded that inadequate repair procedures contributed to the death of a coal miner at an underground operation in Marshall County, West Virginia.

According to the final investigation released by the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), the fatal accident occurred on April 3 at the Ohio County Mine near Dallas. Investigators determined that mine operator Ohio County Coal Resources, Inc. had not established written procedures governing equipment repairs, a deficiency that played a direct role in the incident.

The victim, 36-year-old Darin Ory Reece of Prosperity, Pennsylvania, suffered fatal injuries after being caught between a longwall shield and a scoop. The underground mine employs approximately 462 workers.

MSHA noted that inspectors had completed a routine health and safety inspection just three days before the accident, and another inspection was underway when the incident occurred. However, no federal inspectors were present at the mine when the accident happened.

The Ohio County Mine is operated by Ohio County Coal Resources, Inc. and controlled by American Consolidated Natural Resources (ACNR), headquartered in St. Clairsville, Ohio.

Extensive Violation Record

Federal enforcement records show the mine operator accumulated more than 1,800 safety citations and penalties between the beginning of 2019 and the date of the accident. Among those were 312 violations classified by MSHA as "Significant and Substantial," indicating conditions that could reasonably be expected to result in serious injury.

The violations included repeated issues involving:

• Compliance with approved roof control plans.
• Maintaining clear haulage routes free of loose rock, supplies, and other obstructions.
• Proper guarding of exposed moving machine components.
• Preventing hazardous accumulations of coal dust on equipment and in active work areas.

Experienced Miner

Reece had nearly two decades of mining experience, including more than 11 years at the Ohio County Mine. He had also served for many years as a section supervisor. Originally from Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, he is survived by his wife and two children.

American Consolidated Natural Resources did not provide a public response following the release of the investigation.

Previous Fatal Accidents

The April 2026 tragedy was not the first fatal accident at an ACNR-controlled operation.

In January 2022, contractor Jeffrey Phillips, 44, died after falling from an elevated work area at the Ohio County Mine. MSHA concluded that the contractor, NexGen Industrial Services Inc., failed to ensure workers used required fall-protection equipment.

Another fatal accident occurred in June 2021 at the Marion County Mine. Section foreman Trenten Dille, 25, was killed when a section of mine rib broke away and pinned him against a continuous mining machine while he was installing a rib bolt.

Following that investigation, MSHA determined the mine operator had failed to adequately assess unstable rib conditions and lacked effective procedures for supporting or controlling hazardous rib corners before mining equipment advanced into the area.