October 19, 2026 - The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has released the preliminary report on a mine accident that resulted in the death of a miner on Oct. 8.  

Travis Price, 44, was a shift foreman at Panther Creek Mining’s Speed Mine, also known as American Eagle Mine. He was performing maintenance on a belt conveyor when he came into contact with the belt at the belt tail roller and died from his injuries.  

Price was from the town of Julian in Boone County. The Speed Mine is in Cabin Creek in eastern Kanawha County. He had more than eight and a half years on the job as a miner.  

This is the third mine-related death in West Virginia this year. The previous fatalities were in separate incidents on April 2 and 3, 2026.    

It is the eighth coal mine fatality in the U.S. this year, matching last year’s total. West Virginia accounted for six of 2025’s eight coal mine deaths. 

As reported by the Charleston Gazette-Mail, the mine has been cited numerous times by MSHA and the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training.