GRAFTON, W.Va. — A coal miner died Friday, nearly a week after he was injured on the job in northern West Virginia, officials said.
Colton Walls, 34, of Bruceton Mills, was injured while working as a long-wall electrician at Arch Resources’ underground Leer Mining Complex in Grafton, Gov. Jim Justice said in a statement. According to the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration, the incident occurred on September 28.
Walls is survived by his wife, Jonda, and three children, Justice said.
“The heart and soul of West Virginia are found in our miners, and today we mourn the loss of one of our own,” the governor said.
The statement revealed no further details about the accident, which is being investigated by MSHA and the state Office of Miner Health, Safety and Training.
It was the fifth reported coal fatality of the year in West Virginia and 10th nationally, according to MSHA. There were nine such U.S. deaths last year.
In August, Arch Resources and Consol Energy announced that they are going to combine to form a single coal producer worth more than $5 billion, marking the latest consolidation in a year deal-happy energy sector.