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Miner Killed at Surface Mine is Kentucky's 2nd Coal Death

Creative Commons

An accident at a southeastern Kentucky surface coal mine killed a 33-year-old miner, the state's second mining death this year.

Joseph W. Partin of Williamsburg, died early Thursday morning when a section of exposed rock fell on him at a mine in Whitley County. Partin was doing maintenance work on an auger when the 15-foot-tall rock section fell.

Kentucky's second mining death matched the state's total from last year. A release from Kentucky's Energy and Environment Cabinet said mining operations were shut down at the site and officials remained on the scene Thursday morning.

The mine was last inspected in December, and no unsafe conditions were found. A review of federal inspection records showed no serious violations at the site operated by Green Hill since 2005.

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